Kolkata: Dismissing Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s comparison of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with “Duryodhana”, the evil prince from Mahabharat, BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday hailed Mr Modi as “Arjun” (the protagonist of Mahabharat), saying the Lok Sabha poll results on May 23 will determine whether Mr Modi is Duryodhan or Arjun.
He also defended the PM for his attacking comments on former PM Rajiv Gandhi which has triggered a massive controvesy in the political theatre. In an oblique reference to Mr Modi’s salvo to Congress president Rahul Gandhi: “Your father’s life ended as ‘Corrupt No.1’,” the BJP chief wondered what “wrong” he said.
Mr Shah argued that the Congress and its allies, including Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee, also insulted Mr Modi more than 50 times.
Addressing a BJP Lok Sabha Election campaign rally at Belda in West Midnapore, Mr Shah said, “Just now Priyanka Gandhi has compared Modiji with Duryodhan. Priyankaji, the people of the country will decide on May 23 who is Duryodhan and who is Arjun. You do not need be restless. Let the result on May 23 come. The people of the country will say then whether Modiji is Durjyodhan or Arjun.”
Rallying support behind Mr Modi who has been in the eye of storm for his comments on the late PM the BJP chief observed, “Modiji recently said that Bofors scam took place during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi as the PM. What wrong did he say?”
Rahul Gandhi should tell the people whether Bofors scam and Bhpoal Gas Tragedy Santi Sena Blunder and the Kashmiri Pandits’s slaughter indeed happened during his father’s rule or not.”
Speaking at an election rally in Ghatal, the BJP president alleged that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee is not allowing people to chant “Jai Shri Ram” in the state, and wondered if the Lord’s name cannot be taken in India, will it be uttered in Pakistan.
He said that polls in West Bengal are for restoring democracy in the state, where the BJP will win “more than 23 seats” out of the total 42 Lok Sabha seats.
“Lord Ram is a part of the culture of India... Can anybody stop people from taking his name? I want to ask Mamata didi, if Shri Ram’s name is not taken in India, will it be chanted in Pakistan?” Shah said.
A video had appeared in the social media that showed Ms Banerjee stopping her car at a place in West Midnapore district on Saturday, and chasing some persons who chanted ‘Jai Shri Ram’ as her carcade was crossing the area.
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