Rahul Gandhi didn't go to Uttarakhand and boast like Modi did: Digvijay Singh

Defending party vice-president Rahul Gandhi's visit to flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh on Tuesday said he has not gone there for a photo op unlike Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

"It's a question of timing. Modi went there and boasted, Rahul hasn't done that. Rahul has travelled by road and he is staying there," he said.

Gandhi, who yesterday arrived in Uttarakhand to survey the rescue and relief operations, spent the night at a base camp set up at Gauchar. Today, he made an aerial survey of the parts of the state.

Digvijay Singh also launched a frontal attack on Modi over his claims that he had 15,000 Gujaratis from Uttarakhand.

"I am surprised at the planted news where he claims he rescued 15,000 people. There's no problem with Modi going there, but he should work quietly, not make tall claims and stay there," he said.

Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had earlier advised the VIPs not to visit rain-ravaged Uttarakhand, and said such visits created difficulties in the relief and rescue operations.

"We advise all VIPs not to visit Uttarakhand now. All agencies are engaged in relief and rescue efforts and such visits hamper their works," he said.

The army, ITBP and NDRF today concentrated its evacuation operation by air mainly at Badrinath, Gangotri valley and Pithoragarh district of the state. Most of the pilgrims are stranded in these regions.

About 800 people were yesterday evacuated on foot using makeshift bridges across swollen rivers. Over 1000 people were also airlifted from parts where the rain was not heavy enough to ground military helicopters.