JAMMU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a dig at the culture of dynastic politics, apparently targeting the Congress by taking a veiled swipe at Sonia Gandhi’s controversial son-in-law Robert Vadra. Soon after, Congress vice-president and Vadra’s brother-in-law Rahul Gandhi reciprocated, saying “56-inch chest will shrink to 5.6 inches”.
Modi, who was in Jammu to commemorate the birth centenary of late Congress leader Girdhari Lal Dogra, hailed him for his contributions to the society without indulging in nepotism. He said the nation’s heritage is common to all.
Reviving the controversy over “usurping” the legacy of Sardar Val-labhbhai Patel, as alleged by the Congress a few months ago, Modi disapproved of “political untouchability”, saying the national heritage should not be divided and all leaders who have worked and died for India should be given equal regard irrespective of their ideologies and affiliations.
The prime minister said Dogra was a tall leader of Jammu and Kashmir who presented 26 budgets as the state’s finance minister but never did any favours to his family members, including his son-in-law Arun Jaitley, who is a senior BJP leader and now the Union Finance Minister.
“Both (Dogra and Jaitley) took their own routes in public life. But to-day, we know what kind of talk is going on because of sons-in-law,” Modi said apparently referring to Vadra, who has been embroiled in controversies over his shady land deals in Haryana.
Azad’s remark triggers Modi’s son-in-law jibe
Modi’s comments came after Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and former chief minister of J&K Ghulam Nabi Azad said Dogra was “24 carat Congressman”, who never “compromised with regionalism, casteism and communalism”.
Rahul Gandhi attacks Modi
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting of Congress workers in Jaipur, Rahul Gandhi taunted the prime minister by saying that his “56-inch chest will shrink to 5.6 inches.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
