A war of words has broken out between Chandigarh Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Congress leaders after the usage of bricks with BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi’s name embossed on it for foundation laying ceremony of a Community Centre and then, its removal by the civic body.
While the innovative way of “Modi bricks” was adopted by BJP’s local councillor Saurabh Joshi to promote the party’s PM candidate, the move has left local Congress leaders and mayor Harphool Chand Kalyan outraged. In a novel way to promote Modi, BJP councilor Saurabh Joshi had on Tuesday used bricks bearing Modi word for laying the foundation of a community centre to be built by the city's civic body. But a day after, the MCC officials had removed the bricks and Mayor also sought an explanation from MCC officials over the issue.
Meanwhile, the whole controversy of “Modi bricks” refused to die down as leaders of both the political parties crying foul at each other’s actions. After the removal of bricks, councilor Saurabh Joshi has strongly condemned the MCC’s move to remove the bricks bearing word Modi used in the ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ of the community center in Sector 15 here.
Taking into consideration the reaction given in the last two days by Congress leaders including mayor Harphool Chand Kalyan, the party believe it is the handiwork of Congressmen, he said. Joshi added, “The foundation stone was laid following religious ceremony enchanting hymns from the Vedas. Any harm to the Bhumi Poojan site would mean hurting religious sentiments of people and going against the religion. Congress should abstain from such communal gimmicks. They should realise that it is high time to shun communal politics and also rise above the family politics. We feel pity for the Congress leaders who are unable to think beyond Sonia and Rahul.”
He also demanded probe from an independent agency on the issue of removal or stealing of bricks bearing word Modi from the Bhoomi Poojan spot. A day before, Aarti Mehra, BJP’s incharge for Chandigarh Affairs had supported Joshi’s idea and stated that the usage of Modi bricks is not against any law as it was being used for only foundation ceremony of a community centre. The party’s aim is to build a strong nation and the “Modi bricks” represents the same, she had said.
Meanwhile, the Congress leaders had alleged that the city BJP is trying to promote their leader through the work that has been done by Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh. Former Union Railway Minister and local MP Pawan Kumar Bansal and Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee president BB Bahl had lashed out at the Chandigarh BJP leaders for using “Modi bricks” in a project.