New Delhi:
The Congress has been smarting since the weekend when media reports credited Gujarat Chief Minister
Narendra Modi with a commando-like rescue of 15,000 Gujaratis from flood-ravaged Uttarakhand and its leaders have hinted that the claims might be exaggerated. The outspoken Digvijaya Singh has no qualms openly voicing his disbelief.
The Congress general secretary said today, "It is strange that the Army, the Air Force, paratroopers are all engaged in rescue operations over days and this man (Narendra Modi) comes in and claims he has rescued 15,000 people. Don't lie so much Mr Modi, the people aren't that stupid."
Mr Singh, who is very active on social media, as is Mr Modi, also said, "There may be some of your followers on social media praising you but don't mislead the people of this country..." He used the moniker "feku" for Mr Modi, which the BJP leader's detractors often use to attack him on social media. "Feku" is slang for one who makes tall claims.
The BJP's Meenakshi Lekhi did not take long to retort. She punned on the Hindi word "fekna", which means to throw, saying, "As far as 'feku' goes, it's time for the people of this country to throw out the Congress government."
Soon after Mr Modi's visit to Uttarakhand, where he allegedly evacuated the thousands of tourists from his state with chartered helicopters and luxury buses, his party alleged that Congress number 2 Rahul Gandhi did not rush back from his trip abroad when the massive floods hit Uttarakhand on June 15.
Today, Mr Gandhi made an aerial survey of the parts of the state after spending a night at the Gauchar relief camp. Bad weather did not allow Mr Gandhi's chopper to land.
The Congress sought to distinguish Mr Gandhi's visit from that of Mr Modi's. "Rahul Gandhi is not going there as a VIP. He is going there as a citizen, as the vice-president of Congress to oversee that the relief materials reach in place. Rahul did not say 'I am a Rambo and I did this and I did that,' "Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary said.
Mr Gandhi and Mr Modi are often pitted against each other as many see the 2014 general elections as a face-off between the two leaders, though neither has as yet been named candidate for prime minister by his party.