Congress slams PM Modi’s tribute to RSS chief Bhagwat as “desperate bid” to please Sangh
New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s article praising Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on his 75th birthday, calling it a “desperate bid” to curry favour with the Sangh leadership.
In a column published across newspapers, Modi lauded Bhagwat for his “intellectual depth and empathetic leadership,” saying his tenure since 2009 marked the “most transformative period” in the RSS’s 100-year journey. The Prime Minister also described Bhagwat as a living example of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, dedicating his life to “societal transformation and harmony.”
Reacting sharply, Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh said, “The Prime Minister, in his desperate bid to curry favour with the RSS leadership, has written an over-the-top tribute to Mohan Bhagwat.”
Ramesh further accused Modi of selective recall of historic events. “The PM has remembered Swami Vivekananda’s 1893 Chicago address and the September 11, 2001, terror attacks in the US. But, not surprisingly, he ignored that on September 11, 1906, Mahatma Gandhi first gave the call for satyagraha in Johannesburg, when the world first heard of this revolutionary idea,” he said.
Taking a dig at Modi, Ramesh added, “Of course, it is too much to expect the PM to remember the origin of satyagraha since the very word satya is alien to him. The PM, who himself claimed to be ‘non-biological,’ makes his pravachans appear as if they are God-se.”
The Congress remarks came as the RSS celebrated Bhagwat’s 75th birthday on Thursday.
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Late flourish masks CSK’s batting woes on lively Chepauk track, hosts post 158/7
Chennai (PTI): Bowlers calling the shots in a format dominated by big hitters is a rarity, but that script played out at Chepauk on Sunday as Gujarat Titans exploited a lively, bounce-friendly surface to stifle Chennai Super Kings before the hosts managed a late flourish to reach 158 for 7.
On a pitch that offered sharp carry, stroke-making demanded discretion and adaptability. Instead, CSK’s batters often opted for high-risk shots without fully assessing conditions, and paid the price with a flurry of miscued dismissals.
Invited to bat, CSK never quite found rhythm but skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad’s maiden half-century (74 not out) of the current IPL season lent a semblance of respectability to the total in a season where 200-plus scores have become commonplace.
Gaikwad's knock came off 60 balls with six fours and four sixes after a laboured start.
The tone was set early by GT pacer Mohammed Siraj, who extracted steep bounce and forced errors.
Sanju Samson (11) began watchfully, negotiating the first over before opening up against Kagiso Rabada to bring up his 5000 IPL runs milestone. However, Rabada’s bounce soon accounted for him as a hard slash outside off resulted in a faint edge that Jos Buttler pouched safely.
The dismissal triggered a collapse. Urvil Patel (4) fell in the same Rabada over attempting an ambitious pull, while Sarfaraz Khan (0) succumbed to Siraj’s extra lift, mistiming a short ball to offer a simple catch.
At 28 for 3 inside the Powerplay, CSK were already in trouble.
Gaikwad and Dewald Brevis (2) needed to rebuild, but the latter’s impatience against spinner Manav Suthar led to his downfall, holing out after failing to get to the pitch of the ball.
The mounting wickets forced Gaikwad into a shell — an approach that, while understandable, further stalled the momentum. His reluctance to improvise allowed dot balls to pile up, with CSK reaching 50 only in the 12th over.
The skipper eventually broke free, taking on Arshad Khan and Jason Holder with a couple of towering sixes, but the acceleration came too late.
Shivam Dube, dropped thrice on 6, 11 and 22, struggled for fluency before Arshad cleaned him up.
Kartik Sharma (15) and Jamie Overton (18) provided late impetus with a few lusty hits, but the damage had already been done.
On a pitch that rewarded discipline and smart shot selection, Titans' bowlers executed their plans to perfection, while CSK’s batters failed to read the conditions in time, a lapse that ultimately defined the innings.
