The Congress on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the recent bonhomie with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, alleging that it was “another U-turn” by Modi who had not long back dubbed NCP as “naturally corrupt party”. The party also took a swipe of PM’s comment on free power issue when one its ruled States Punjab is already distributing free power.
“NCP ‘Naturally Corrupt Party’ becomes Not So Corrupt Party for Modi! Another U-Turn! Narendrabhai continue making such U-Turns,” tweeted senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh. Modi had shared the stage with Pawar in Maharashtra’s Baramati on Saturday, leading to speculation on the prospect of BJP and NCP cosying up after a bitter election campaign last year, where both sides minced no words while attacking each other.
While PM Modi had attacked Pawar during Maharashtra elections last year and called the NCP “Naturally Corrupt Party,” this visit sparked off a new bonhomie where the PM sang a different tune.
Another Congress leader Manish Tewari took a swipe at the PM over his remarks on free power issue. “Mr Prime Minister would you walk the talk & tell the Akali-BJP Government in Punjab to pull the plug on Free power to farmers in PunjabIJ Or Rhetoric,” Tewari tweeted. The reference was in light of Modi frowning upon political parties promising free power to people. The Akali Dal-BJP Government provides free power to farmers in Punjab.
To another question during AICC briefing as to whether NCP is still part of the UPA on the fact that both Modi and Pawar were seen sharing a stage in Maharashtra, Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala said NCP has not said otherwise. “They both attended a social function and they both said it is a social function and not a political one. We have no reason to believe otherwise. The BJP is now known to be a ‘Jumla party’ and the people of Delhi have turned the BJP into the ‘Jumla Party’,” he said.