Shiv Sena slams Rahul Gandhi's 'obnoxious' taunt at PM

Describing Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's 'dalali' remark as 'obnoxious', the Shiv Sena on Friday said it is extremely unfortunate that the grand old party and NCP leaders are playing petty politics over the surgical strikes instead of boosting the morale of India Army and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande told ANI that what else can someone expect from an immature person like Rahul Gandhi as he hardly cares about what is happening in the country.

"I think this is a very 'obnoxious' statement. But what can you expect from Rahul Gandhi? The person, who is so immature and whatever is happening in the country hardly matters to him. What else can you expect? But I think such sort of statements, sometimes Sonia Gandhi saying 'Maut ka saudaagar' and this 'Khoon ki holi'. What image of the country you create in front of the world?" Kayande said.

"If the Prime Minister is taking all the parties in confidence when he has taken some action then they should definitely boost the morale of the army and the Prime Minister," she added.

Stating that everybody praised then prime minister Indira Gandhi after the 1971 war and even called her with the name of 'Durga', Kayande said, "I think the Congress Party and even the NCP leaders are playing petty politics over the surgical strikes that is really unfortunate."

Targeting the Prime Minister over the surgical strikes, Gandhi yesterday said, "Jo hamare jawan hain jinhone apna khoon diya hai, Jammu and Kashmir mein khoon diya hai, jinhone Hindustan ke liye surgical strikes kiye hain, unke khoon ke peeche aap chhupe hain. Unki aap dalali kar rahe ho. Yeh bilkul galat hai . (You [Modi] are hiding behind the blood of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir and those who carried out the surgical strikes for India. You are exploiting their sacrifices, which is very wrong)."

Concluding his 'Kisan Yatra' at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, Gandhi called upon the Prime Minister to work for the development of people, especially farmers and army men.

"Help the farmers give the army a hike in the seventh pay commission, it is your responsibility and that is what you have been elected for," said Gandhi.

However, the Congress vice-president insisted that he supports the surgical strikes but will not support the use of Indian Army in political posters and propaganda.

"I fully support the surgical strikes and I have said so unequivocally, but I will not support using the Indian Army in political posters and propaganda all across the country," said Gandhi in a series of tweets.

A political slugfest over the surgical strikes broke out on Tuesday with Mumbai Congress chief Sanjay Nirupam calling it "fake" and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asking the government to release the proof of the surgical strikes to counter the Pakistani propaganda against the operation.

The ruling BJP at the Centre, however, lashed out at the opposition for demeaning the morale of the armed forces by demanding proof of the predawn September 29 surgical strikes.