New Delhi: Even though Congress leaders claimed that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had gone abroad with “permission” of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Opposition parties targeted him for his absence from Thursday dinner hosted by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for the outgoing premier.
The Opposition parties claimed that “Mr Gandhi insulted the Prime Minister” by skipping the dinner in his honour. Training gun at the Congress vice-president, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Ashutosh said “he (Mr Gandhi) is not ready to learn and take responsibility”. The BJP too joined the issue by taking potshot at Mr Gandhi’s absence from the dinner.
“Where has the Congress’ PM candidate gone? Should there be any such mysterious act in this manner. Mrs Sonia Gandhi had insulted former Congress president Sitaram Kesri. In similar manner, Mr Gandhi has insulted Prime Minister, who headed their government for 10 years,” BJP leader Tarun Vijay said.
The BJP ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra too attacked Mr Gandhi for skipping the dinner. Party spokesperson Sanjay Raut said, “The Prime Minister governed India for 10 years. If you cannot spare time for him, how will you give time to your party and the country.” However, the Congress rubbished the allegations levelled by Opposition parties.
“The question of insult does not arise. Mr Gandhi is abroad and he has gone there after thanking the Prime Minister and taking his permission, said Congress leader Satyavrat Chaturvedi. The Congress leader Ajay Maken said that after three months of “gruelling” campaigning, Mr Gandhi had gone out of town for two days.
Mr Rahul Gandhi reportedly returned in Delhi on Thursday evening, with sources saying he had gone to Indonesia. The Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh too came in the defence of Mr Gandhi, saying the office of the party vice-president had released a statement informing about his going going to abroad.
Union minister Rajiv Shukla too ridiculed the BJP and Shiv Sena for attacking the Congress vice-president. “Two parties are in the habit of attacking the Gandhi family and Rahul in particular on a day to day basis,” he said.
