Kashmir burning but Modi beating drums, Parrikar gifting LED bulbs: Congress

The Congress in Goa on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, saying Modi was beating drums in Africa and the latter was distributing LED bulbs in the coastal state while Kashmir burned.

"Kashmir is burning but Modi is beating drums in Africa while the Defence Minister is distributing LED bulbs in Goa," Congress state unit spokesperson Sunil Kawthankar told the media here.

Violence in the Kashmir Valley has so far led to the deaths of at least 23 people after the Friday killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani and two others by security forces.

Parrikar was in Goa last week to attend several functions, including the one to hand over LED bulbs under the 'Jyotirmaya' scheme.

The Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition government aims to distribute nearly 15 lakh LED bulbs to nearly five lakh households in the coastal state under the scheme.

Kawthankar said that a year ago when Modi was negotiating the Rafale fighter jets deal in France, Parrikar was photographed inaugurating a fish stall in Goa and holding fish.

"With the Prime Minister currently on a four-nation tour to Africa, at least other senior ministers should have been more alert about the goings-on in the country. But what can we expect from a Defence Minister who was photographed inaugurating a fish stall in Goa when Modi was negotiating the Rafale deal," Kawthankar said.

--IANS

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