BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi came under attack from the Congress on Monday for the failure of some BJP chief ministers, including him, to attend the National Integration Council meeting held in the backdrop of Muzaffarnagar communal riots alleging it showed their “utter disrespect” for national issues.
“It shows the scant respect the national leaders of the BJP have for national issues. NIC is a 147-member high-powered committee in the country. (Someone who wants to be) future leader does not find time for the meeting,” party spokesman P.C. Chacko told reporters.
Mr Chacko said the absence of some BJP CMs, including Mr Modi, was “most unfortunate” and showed their “utter disrespect” to national issues. He said if they had boycotted, then “we would have stronger words to say”.
Replying to another question, Mr Chacko said there cannot be a comparison between Mr Modi and the Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
He claimed while Mr Modi was imposing himself on his party and the nation, the case was different with Mr Gandhi who is liked by people.
When told that Mr Modi has expressed readiness for an open debate with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr Chacko said party general secretary Digvijay Singh has challenged the Gujarat CM to a debate and “let him accept that”.
Mr Chacko downplayed sulking party MP Rao Inderjit Singh’s decision to bid goodbye to “Congress politics”. “He is free to do that. There is no harm in that. Congress party is yet to decide the candidate from the seat....It will take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time”, Mr Chacko told reporters in reply to questions on the issue.