Stung by the release of a video by the BJP detailing her husband Rabert Vadra’s alleged land deals, Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called BJP leaders a frustrated lot who are running like “desperate rats”. She also targeted BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi and said the country did not need 56-inch chest but a compassionate heart that could understand problems of the people.
“They are running around like panic-stricken rats. I knew that they will repeat their bunch of lies. There is nothing new in it but let them say whatever they want to. I am not afraid of anyone and will continue to speak against their negative, destructive and shameful politics,” Priyanka told reporters after addressing a rally in Raebareli.
When asked about a video and a booklet brought out by the BJP on the controversial land deals of her husband, Priyanka said, “I will not remain quiet and I am waiting for them to say more.” “let them do what they want. I am not scared of them. I am not scared of anything,” she said, adding that she would continue to speak against BJP’s negative politics.
“They are going for personal attacks and negative politics but I will continue to make the people aware of the real motive of the BJP behind such malicious tirade against my family members,” she said.
Reacting to Priyanka’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said, “Calling BJP rats is abusive politics. They have taken democratic discourse to such a low and have now distorted and hurt democracy.”
He said when the BJP leaders — including Modi — are raising “corruption issues, they are trying to divert the attention of the country from important issues such as price rise and corruption”.
Earlier, taking a dig at Narendra Modi, Priyanka said a 56-inch chest is not needed to run the country but a “big heart” and “moral strength”. The Congress star campaigner was taking a jibe at BJP’s prime ministerial candidate’s 56-inch chest remark during a rally in Gorakhpur recently. “A 56-inch chest is not needed to run this country. A big heart is needed to
run it. To run this country cruel force of power is not needed, but moral strength is needed. It needs an internal strength,” Priyanka said while addressing a meeting here. “Such type of strength is needed, which could even sacrifice life to save the culture of the country,” she said. Modi had said during the Gorakhpur rally that it would take a “56-inch chest” to convert UP into Gujarat.
"Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav), do you know the meaning of converting UP into GujaratIJ It means 24-hour electricity, no power cut for 365 days in every village and street. You can't do it. You don't have the guts to turn UP into Gujarat. It takes a 56-inch chest," Modi had said.
Priyanka said this is the country of Mahatma Gandhi and people of all religions -- including Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhist, Jains -- sacrificed their lives for its freedom. "Dalits and tribals sacrificed their lives for its freedom," she said.
"This is your country and you are its guard. This is my country and the blood which runs in my veins has mixed with its soil," Priyanka said, adding, "It your duty to protect the country and the 'dharma' of my family".