Congress accuses Narendra Modi of not showing 'proper respect' to Indira Gandhi

Kolkata: The West Bengal Congress on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "not showing proper respect" to Indira Gandhi by skipping the event commemorating the death anniversary of the former Prime Minister at the Shakti Sthal memorial.

"Indira Gandhi was not only the PM of the country, she was the symbol of fight against injustices all over the world. She lived and died for the nation and it was unwise and not desireable on the part of the present PM to skip the event and not showing proper respect to her," Congress MP and senior WBPCC leader Pradip Bhattacherjee told PTI.

"Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Indira Gandhi were both products of the Congress. So giving less importance to one of these two glorious leaders of the country was not expected," he said as Modi flagged off the "Run for Unity" on Sardar Patel's birth anniversary.

Bhattacherjee said Congress leaders including himself, party MP Abhijit Mukherjee, son of President Pranab Mukherjee and a senior Congress leader Manas Bhunia, MLA offered floral tributes to the former PM at a programme near Indira Gandhi's statue near Birla Planetarium in the city.