The BJP and Opposition Congress party on Wednesday locked horns over Prime Minister Narendra Modi interview to film actor Akshay Kumar.
The war of words between the two parties started after Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, while campaigning in Uttar Pradesh, lashed out at Modi for his alleged recurring tirade against the Gandhi family, including Nehru, and called him ‘Pradhan prachar mantri’.
In the interview to Akshay Kumar, Modi without naming anyone had said unlike some he never worked to become the PM. He said he did not know how he became the PM. He said he had taken life as a responsibility as and when anything came to him he tried to fulfill it.
Priyanka Gandhi hitting out at Modi asked him why he was obsessed with her family. She said she had been to his constituency in Varanasi and was told that Modi did not visit any of the villages there to ask people about their well being in the last five years.
Responding to Priyanka’s charge against Modi, BJP leader and former Congress spokesperson Tom Vadakkan hit back, calling her a ‘Page 3’ socialite. Vadakkan alleged that Priyanka was in the grip of ‘Page 3’ mindset. He said she was required to be at the ground level and a new entrant to politics. “She was needed to be at ground zero,” Vadakkan said. He asked Priyanka to decide about her own fate before commenting against Modi.
BJP leaders Nalin Kohli and Narendra Taneja agreed with Vadakkan’s remarks about Priyanka Gandhi.
BJP Lok Sabha MP Meenakshi Lekhi asked Priyanka to see her father Rajiv Gandhi’s record. She said Rajiv Gandhi had gone to see a special event by actor Sridevi at Hotel Lalit. She said there were pictures of Indira Gandhi with many actors. She said the PM as per his Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas meets all including farmers, and also actors.
The BJP said the PM Modi interview was a ‘non-political’ one. The party pointed out that actor Simi Garewal too had interviewed Rajiv Gandhi.
“Priyanka has failed as a politician. The Congress’ brahamastra has come a cropper,” Taneja said.