Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to one crore BJP workers on Thursday came under fire from the opposition, who accused him of pursuing a political agenda at a time when clouds of war were hovering over the nation.
Congress slammed Modi for carrying on with his ‘Mera Booth Sabse Majboot’ programme where he was set to address one crore BJP workers through video conferencing.
“It is a glaring case of misplaced priorities,” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
“132 crore Indians pray for safe and immediate return of India’s brave-heart Wing Commander Abhinandan but Modiji desperate only for re-election,” Surjewala said.
BSP supremo Mayawati termed Modi’s plans as “laughable” and aimed at playing with the emotions of the nation.
“At a time when war clouds are hovering and the nation is in dire need of leadership, Prime Minister Modi, instead of focussing on national security is worried about his party,” she said.
“His address to the BJP booth workers is not only laughable but also playing with the emotions of the nation,” Mayawati said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Prime Minister to call off his political engagements for the day,
“I would urge the PM to postpone this. At this moment, we as a nation, need to spend all our energies and time to get the IAF pilot back safely and to sternly deal with Pakistan,” Kejriwal said.
Surjewala pointed out that the Congress had cancelled the meeting of the Congress Working Committee, the party’s top decision-making body scheduled for Thursday at Ahmedabad as well as the rally to be addressed by Rahul Gandhi.
“Pradhan Sevak hell-bent on creating a video conference record,” Surjewala said taking a dig at Modi using a sobriquet oft-quoted by Modi himself.
CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury asked the BJP to introspect on the statement of 21 opposition parties who had asked the ruling party to refrain from politicising the Pulwama attack and its aftermath.
“BJP leaders have been doing election rallies, Modi has been attending party events, when CRPF jawans were martyred or when Pakistani jets were being taken on by our brave pilots,” Yechury said.
At a meeting of 21 opposition parties on Wednesday, senior leaders decided to train their guns at Modi, who they accused of driving political mileage from the Pulwama terror attacks.
The Congress also launched a social media campaign targeting Modi’s actions in the immediate aftermath of the Pulwama attack.