Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of indulging in political exploitation of the sacrifices of soldiers in remarks that come in the wake of cross-LoC surgical strikes on terror launch pads in PoK.
"Jo hamare jawan hain jinhone apna khoon diya hai, Jammu and Kashmir mein khoon diya hai, jinhone Hindustan ke liye surgical strike 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}," he said.
Gandhi was addressing a rally here, marking the culmination of his month-long 'Deoria to Delhi kisan yatra' in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.
"The Indian army has done its job for the country, you do yours," the Congress Vice President said, attacking Modi. His attack comes a few days after he had praised Modi for his first Prime Minister-like action in two years in the context of surgical strike.
Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi over his "dalali" barb at Naredra Modi, BJP called his remarks "a new low in Indian politics" and said he was speaking in "frustration" as the Prime Minister was drawing "praise" after he gave nod to the army to carry out the surgical strikes.
"It is most shameful. Such remarks reflect his mental bankruptcy. The army and the Prime Minister are getting praise from everywhere for the surgical strikes. Modi is being praised for his decision and he is unable to digest it. Rahul Gandhi is in frustration," BJP National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
Another party National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh said, "His statement is a new low in Indian politics. It is not only condemnable but highly irresponsible coming from the vice president of Congress party which fought for independence...Surgical strikes happened across the LoC but Rahul Gandhi has done surgical strike on his party." Taking a jibe at Gandhi, Sharma said "dalali" is in his and Congress' nature as he referred to a number of alleged scams, like 2G, CWG, coal, involving the UPA government, which, he added, ran into 12 lakh crore.
Gandhi too is on bail in the National Herald scam of Rs 5000 crore, he alleged. Referring to controversial comments of some Congress leaders including Sanjay Nirupam, Sharma said the Opposition party is confused as they had been attacking Modi after Pathankot and Uri terror attacks and do not know how to react after he ordered the surgical strikes. Congress and other political parties may be nervous because of courage and will power shown by Modi government in backing armed forces decision to go for surgical strike across LOC. The aim of a responsible govt is to back armed forces which defend the nation and not use them for political gains, Singh said.
Terming Gandhi's 'Kisan Yatra' in Uttar Pradesh as a "flop drama", Sharma said the governments run by Gandhi family members did nothing for either farmers or youths and have the "blot" of suicides committed by lakhs of farmers.
Modi is solving the problems inherited from Congress governments and has come out with schemes like crop insurance and soil health card to help farmers.
"The Modi government has offered salve to the wounds inflicted by Congress governments," he said.
Addressing a public meeting, Gandhi had earlier said "jinhone Hindustan ke liye surgical strike kiye hain, unke khoon ke peeche aap chhupe hain. Unki aap dalali kar rahe ho. You (Modi) are hiding behind the blood of soldiers who carried out the surgical strikes for India. You are exploiting their sacrifices. "
