New Delhi: Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday pointed out that the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha allegedly travelled to Vietnam to celebrate the New Year just days after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s death, dubbing it as an insult for the late Congress leader.
The sharp response came from the BJP after the Congress accused the Central government of insulting Manmohan Singh by not cremating him at a spot earmarked for his memorial.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla was quoted as saying by ANI: “While the country is mourning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s demise, Rahul Gandhi has flown abroad to ring in the New Year even as the nation observes seven days of mourning. Congress doesn’t care for Dr Manmohan Singh. They abused and insulted him during his lifetime. They continue to do so now. Yesterday nobody went to collect his ashes. Congress even denied the Bharat Ratna to Dr Manmohan Singh. This is their true face.”
On Monday, the Congress clarified that its leaders did not accompany the family during the ashes immersion in order to respect the privacy of the grieving relatives of the leader.
‘Leader of paryatan’
Meanwhile, Poonawalla called Rahul Gandhi a “leader of paryatan” (tourism). He claimed that Rahul Gandhi has redefined the term ‘Leader of Opposition’ (LoP), turning it into ‘Leader of ‘Paryatan” and ‘Leader of the Party’. While the nation mourns the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi has reportedly left for “paryatan” and party matters, he pointed out, adding that this wasn’t the first time his priorities have raised hackles — during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, he was reportedly partying all night. “It seems he is not concerned about the death of Dr Manmohan Singh.”
BJP leader Amit Malviya pointed out that Rahul Gandhi had flown to Vietnam when the country was mourning the passing of Dr Manmohan Singh.
Taking to X, he wrote: “While the country is mourning Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s demise, Rahul Gandhi has flown to Vietnam to ring in the New Year. Rahul Gandhi politicised and exploited Dr Singh’s death for his expedient politics but his contempt for him is unmissable. The Gandhis and the Congress hate the Sikhs. Never forget that Indira Gandhi desecrated the Darbar Sahib.”
‘Why does it bother you’: Congress counter attacks BJP
In a counter attack, Congress MP Manickam Tagore wrote on X: “When will the Sanghis stop this ‘Take Diversion’ politics? The way Modi denied Dr. Saheb a place for cremation on the Yamuna banks and how his ministers cornered Dr. Saheb’s family is shameful. If Mr Gandhi travels privately, why does it bother you? Get well in the New Year.”
