Top BJP leaders lashed out at former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti over her remarks against former President Ram Nath Kovind. The PDP chief sparked outrage after accusing the outgoing leader of fulfilling the BJP’s political agenda at the cost of the Constitution. Her remarks had come ahead of NDA’s candidate Droupadi Murmu’s swearing-in ceremony on Monday morning.
“The outgoing President leaves behind a legacy where the Indian Constitution was trampled upon umpteenth times. Be it scrapping of Article 370,Citizenship Amendment Act or the unabashed targeting of minorities and Dalits, he fulfilled BJP’s political agenda all at the cost of the Indian Constitution,” Mufti alleged in a tweet.
BJP leaders however have dismissed the allegations, insisting that no importance should be attached to any statements “given in a wrong way”.
“We should not give importance to anyone’s statement given in a wrong way,” said Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju.
“She is demeaning the outgoing President. This isn’t surprising as her track record has always been like this. Removal of Article 370 and 35A were long-standing demands of Kashmiris,” asserted BJP leader and spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla.
Kovind demitted office on Monday after completing his five-year tenure and has now retired to a bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi. Earlier today the outgoing leader had escorted his successor Droupadi Murmu from the Rashtrapati Bhawan to Parliament House before participating in the handing-over ceremony. President Murmu was administered the oath of office by Chief Justice of India NV Ramanna.
In her address to the nation after being sworn in, Murmu stated that she was the first President to be born in independent India and was honoured to take charge at a time when the country is completing 75 years of Independence. The first tribal and second woman to hold the country’s highest constitutional office said her elevation to the post is not only her own achievement but that of every poor of the country and is a reflection of the confidence of crores of Indians.
