Union Minister Anurag Thakur launched a scathing criticism against leaders of the INDIA bloc, asserting that while opposition figures were preoccupied with “abusing” Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his stature had steadily risen on the global stage over the past decade.
“… Initially you wanted to do ‘tukde tukde’ of the country and now you want to do the same to PM Narendra Modi. First, they would go and stand with the ‘tukde tukde’ gang, now they include those advocating ‘tukde tukde’ into their gang…,” the Minister for Information and Broadcasting said.
The pointed comments were made during a press briefing held on Sunday in New Delhi.
“They neither have a leader, nor a policy, nor an intention. They have changed the name of their UPA alliance, but their real face remains the same… ‘wo chalate rahe gaaliyon ka patthar, magar Modiji badhate rahe Bharat ka star’ (They continued to abuse, But Modiji enhanced prestige of India) …,” he said.
“Yesterday one minister of INDI alliance, in front of a female leader of his party, used very derogatory remarks in a very objectionable language for the Prime Minister of the country. The words he used for the most popular leader in the world are condemnable, and there is no place for such things in a democracy,” he said.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and leaders of the INDIA bloc have been engaging in verbal sparring over the “no family” jibe.
Previously, during the party’s ‘Jan Vishwas Maha Rally’ in Patna, Lalu Yadav remarked that Prime Minister Narendra Modi merely fosters animosity under the guise of religion.
“These days he is talking about dynastic politics. You (PM Modi) don’t have a family. You are not even a Hindu. When your mother died, every Hindu, as per tradition, shaves his beard and head. Why did you not shave? You only spread hatred in society,” RJD Chief Lalu Yadav said.
The INDIA bloc is a coalition of opposition parties established to challenge the BJP-led Union government in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the dates for which were disclosed earlier this month.
However, the opposition’s anti-BJP coalition is encountering difficulties in reaching consensus on seat-sharing arrangements ahead of the general elections.
Previously, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who played a prominent role in the alliance, exited the coalition and aligned with the BJP-led NDA.
The polling for the 543 Lok Sabha seats will take place in seven phases, commencing on April 19 and concluding on June 1. The election results are slated to be announced on June 4.