BJP defends Narendra Modi roadshow, says Congress showing desperation
New Delhi: As Congress and other parties sought action from Election Commission against Narendra Modi for his roadshow during filing of nomination, BJP on Friday hit
back saying they were rattled by the "spontaneous" response of the people and claimed it had done nothing illegal.
"Congress cannot chew it, cannot digest the success of Modi. That is why they went complaining against EC and media forgetting that they cannot curb media," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said here after Congress objected to the telecast of Modi's roadshow in Varanasi during voting for the sixth phase and accused the Election Commission of "inaction".
He also dismissed statements of Congress leaders Meem Afzal and Beni Prasad Verma as a reflection of the party's "exasperation and desperation" and said every "abuse" hurled at Modi will "turn into a flower" and people were taking their "democratic revenge" by giving mandate to BJP.
"Yesterday there was tremendous and spontaneous response to the nomination Narendra Modi in Varanasi. Congress is totally unsettled by the procession and response it got and therefore they have in their desperation gone to the Election Commission," Javadekar told reporters.
Congress, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have objected to the telecast of Modi roadshow during the voting and complained to the Election Commission seeking action against BJP and its PM candidate.
"I really wonder against whom they are complaining. In fact, they are complaining against EC itself. Because the EC has put these dates for nominations and the same day there are elections. They have not banned nominations."
Justifying the roadshow, he said "it is perfect legal thing to do so and still they are complaining to EC. This shows their exasperation."
On Congress complaint against media, BJP leader said, "They have also spoken against media. Media is independent. They do not want to air flop show. They want to air houseful shows."
Reacting to Congress leader Meem Afzal's statement that it was a hired crowd, he said, "Congress is in the habit of hiring crowds. Crowds are thronging BJP meetings everywhere because they look to BJP with hope."
On Beni Prasad Verma's anti-Modi tirade, he said, "Let them hurl all abuses. Every abuse will become a flower for Modi. People are taking democratic revenge by voting out the government and giving a decisive mandate for Modi. Therefore, let Congress continue in exasperation and desperation what it is doing."
Quoting Modi's speech, Javadekar said he had given a message of commiting himself to the cause of a nation building. He touched upon Ganga Mission and lives of weavers and how they can compete with Chinese. He touched upon lives of all sections of society.
"They also asked why he garlanded Madan Mohan Malaviya's statue. Congress nominees are doing the same all over the country while filing nominations. That is a good tradition.
Malaviya was Congress leader, a great national leader. There is nothing religious about it. It is about nationalism. But Congress failed to realise this," the BJP spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Congress made a fervent appeal to people of Varanasi to support it in the "battle of ideologies" and reject the divisive forces.
Union Minister and party leader Manish Tewari said the fight for Congress in this election is all about "protecting the idea of India" and asked people of Varanasi to defend its plurality and rich cultural tradition.
"It is a battle of ideologies. In this election, the fight is to protect the core values and ideology which have strong roots in Banaras," Tewari said addressing a press conference.
Congress has fielded Ajay Rai, a Varanasi local, who is an MLA from Pindra assembly constituency. Samajwadi Party's Kailash Chaurasiya is also a sitting MLA from nearby Mirzapur.
Both Rai and Chaurasiya have already filed their nominations.
Asked about Modi road show yesterday, Tewari said he was told that people from neighbouring areas were "brought" to the city.
"Varanasi has rich tradition and I do not think there will be any major impact of it (road show) in the election. I was told when Rai filed nomination large number of local people had gathered," Tewari said.
Asked about allegations of Rai's involvement in certain criminal cases, Tewari said the Congress candidate has already explained on the issue and there was no need for him to comment on it.
