Journalism of Courage
BJP today hit back at key ally JD(U) for targeting Narendra Modi,rejecting all “unfounded inferences” against the Gujarat Chief Minister,and said it should refrain from diluting NDA’s focus on removing the UPA government.
As it stoutly defended Modi and disapproved of JD(U)’s remarks against him,the BJP also said it was unfortunate if the NDA allies “concentrate their energies” on the party’s Chief Ministers and suggested they get their priorities right.
“We reject all unfounded inferences against Narendra Modi,” party spokesperson Nirmala Sitaraman told reporters here,adding it was “unfortunate” that allies were “concentrating their energies” on BJP Chief Ministers and diluting the focus on the battle to oust UPA.
Without naming JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar,she said the BJP expects allies to keep their main focus on removing the “non-performing and corrupt UPA led government which is taking the “country on a downslide in every field”.
“The BJP expects opposition parties and allies to keep their main focus on that. However,it is unfortunate,if they concentrate their energies on our Chief Ministers and dilute the focus of removing the UPA. The BJP will continue its determined efforts in this direction,” she said.
Her reaction shortly after the Bihar Chief Minister and his party JD(U) made no bones about their reservations on Modi’s possible prime ministerial candidature.
Nitish took a dig at Modi for his frequentreference to the Gujarat model of development,saying many people accept it as development even when a developed state grows,and stressed that there is a need to see from where did a particular state start its development march.
The JD(U) had also criticised Modi yesterday saying he “failed in discharging his duties as the head of the state to check communal riots in Gujarat in 2002”.
Senior BJP leader Kalraj Mishra,who has earlier taken on Nitish for his continued opposition to Modi as a possible PM nominee,also stood behind the chief minister,saying he has created a place for himself in people’s hearts.
Modi was hugely popular and like Atal Bihari Vajpayee a politician “who has taken everyone along”,Mishra said.
The Chief Minister is a follower of Vajpayee’s policies but comparisons should not be made between them,he added.
“Narendra Modi is the BJP’s most popular leader,” Mishra added.
