PM Narendra Modi, Manmohan Singh greeted each other at an event in parliament
Highlights
- Amid bitter war of words, PM, Manmohan Singh greeted each other today
- They met at an event to mark the 2001 parliament attack anniversary
- PM should show "gravitas expected of his office", Manmohan Singh had said
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his predecessor Manmohan Singh today greeted each other with folded hands and shook hands as they came face to face at an event to mark the 2001 parliament attack anniversary.
The two leaders met outside parliament before entering the house for a tribute to the nine people who were killed in the attack.
The encounter was interpreted by many as awkward in the middle of a
war of words over PM Modi's allegation that the Congress was conspiring with Pakistan to influence the Gujarat outcome and at a dinner attended by the former prime minister, Congress leaders discussed the Gujarat election with Pakistani guests.
The comments made at an election rally in Gujarat by PM Modi on Sunday provoked outrage from the Congress, which rubbished the charge.
But the sharpest rejoinder came from Manmohan Singh, who said the
Prime Minister should apologise to the nation for "falsehoods and canards". He also said Mr Modi should show the "maturity and gravitas expected of his office" and alleged that he was setting a "dangerous precedent by his insatiable desire to tarnish every constitutional office".
After an acrid campaign for the Gujarat election, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was seen at the same event greeting BJP leaders.
The 47-year-old, set to formally take charge of the Congress party on Saturday, shook hands warmly with union ministers Sushma Swaraj and Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Gujarat votes tomorrow in the second round of what is seen as the most high-stakes assembly election before the national polls in 2019. The results in Gujarat, as well as Himachal Pradesh, will be declared on Monday.