Left, Congress attack Modi on Pranab comment

Modi said in a rally that Gandhi family twice denied opportunity to Pranab Mukherjee to be the country's prime minister

Accusing BJP of doublespeak, the Left Front and the Congress today lashed out at BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for his comment that the Gandhi family twice denied opportunity to Pranab Mukherjee to be the country's prime minister.

"His comment doesn't have any substance. He has given a statement just for the sake of playing to the gallery. By dragging in the highest office of the country into political debates is condemnable," WBPCC President Pradip Bhattacharya said.

Left Front chairman Biman Bose said, "Modi is now sympathising with Pranab Mukherjee not being made prime minister. Where was his sympathy and BJP's sympathy when they had fielded a candidate against him during Presidential polls? At that time they had not shown any sympathy. They are expert in doublespeak."

Bose also criticised Modi for his comment on the proposed Third Front headed by CPI(M) that it should see which way the wind was blowing.

"If someone makes a degrading statement, then it is not necessary that I also have to stoop low and make another comment. This is not a culture and heritage of Bengal," Bose said.

Trinamool Congress MP Kalyan Banerjee also lashed out at Modi for questioning the change in Bengal.

"How a hero of 'danga' (riots) will know what 'paribartan' (change) was brought in Bengal by Mamata Banerjee?" Banerjee tweeted.