Congress leader Rahul Gandhi drew sharp criticism from the BJP for not paying tribute to former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao on his 100th birth anniversary.
Taking to Twitter, BJP leader and Minister of State for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy accused Gandhi of being “so busy” that he forgot to pay tribute to the late leader who was a “lifelong Congressman”.
“So busy is Shri @RahulGandhi that he has “forgotten” to pay tributes to Sri #PVNarasimhaRao Garu on his 100th Jayanti. Sri PVNR was a lifelong Congressman, yet appalling to see how one dynasty tramples over his legacy. Such political untouchability is distasteful & unfortunate,” Reddy tweeted.
He further said that the BJP rises above the party lines to pay tribute to anyone who works for the nation, be it a leader of Congress or any other party.
“PV Narasimha Rao brought economic reforms to this country. He worked as the Prime Minister of the country at the time of crisis. PM has decided to release postal stamps in his (PV Narasimha Rao) memory in the presence of eminent people from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana,” Reddy told ANI.
‘Not from Gandhi family’
Narasimha Rao’s grandson and BJP leader NV Subhash also hit out at Gandhi and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for not paying tribute his grandfather and said that they did so as he was not from the Gandhi family.
“Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and other Congress leaders didn’t pay tributes to late PV Narsimgh Rao because he was from south India and not from Gandhi family. Whereas, PM Narendra Modi sent a letter and paid floral tribute to him,” Subhash said.
However, former Prime Minister and senior Congress leader Manmohan Singh remembered Rao, saying he was a rare scholar and statesman who gave a new sense of direction to the country’s economic and foreign policies.
PV Narasimha Rao, the ninth Prime Minister of India, assumed office in June 1991 and remained in power till May 1996. He is known for introducing several economic reforms in the country during his tenure.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several Union ministers and political leaders of many parties paid homage to Rao.
“Tributes to former PM Shri PV Narasimha Rao Ji on his 100th birth anniversary. India remembers his extensive contributions to national development. He was blessed with remarkable knowledge and intellect,” PM Modi tweeted.
