Congress questions Modi's visit to blast victims

Rashid Alvi asks why he also didn't go to visit the affected families of the Muzaffarnagar riot victims

With BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s much publicised visit to the homes of the Patna blast victims in Bihar today, Congress lashed out accusing him of “playing sheer politics with the relatives of the victims.” The Congress has been of late countering Modi aggressively with its top rank leaders including Digvijay Singh challenging Modi and saying he won't allow “Hindu version of Taliban” to succeed in India.

Congress leader Rashid Alvi speaking to Business Standard  questioned whether Modi had genuinely gone to sympathise with the affected families. Alvi said, “Did Modi actually go to offer his sympathies to the families ? Whey then did he not also also go visit the affected families of the Muzaffarnagar riot victims; he didn’t even offer any condolences to them. How then can we believe that his intention was genuine.  It is just politics nothing else.”

It is significant that the Congress till a few months ago had taken a decision not to engage and respond to Modi’s attacks on the Congress, the reasoning being  that it would give him undue importance. However, once he was declared Prime Ministerial candidate , the Congress has found as a party source explained, “he can no longer be ignored. He attacks us everyday so we have to respond.”      

This morning Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh launched a fresh assault on Modi on his Twitter handle. Singh said, “I hate all those who advocate Ideology of Hate including Taliban and I won't allow the Hindu version of Taliban to succeed in India.”

Modi has in addition been attacking the Congress over neglecting Sardar Patel’s legacy. Singh therefore taking a dig at Modi for his new found idolization of Patel said, “Is Narendra Modi ditching RSS Icons Golwalkar , Dindayal Uppadhyay & Shyamaprasad Mukharji ? Now trying to hijack Patel's legacy ?” on Twitter.

Yesterday Law minister Kapil Sibal while addressing the Modi had outrightly accused Modi of being a lair. He challenged him to a debate on any issue and hinted at black money funding Modi’s massive rallies. Referring to the proposed "Statue of Unity" of Patle that Modi was building in Gujarat, Sibal said the sense of unity "should be in the hearts ... apologize for the wrongs you did.”

I & B minister Manish Tewari was also not far behind and attacked Modi and his appropriation of Sardar Patel’s legacy.