Using words that no PM in India's history used for oppn: Priyanka slams Modi over 'mujra' remark
New Delhi (PTI): Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "mujra" barb, the Congress on Saturday said he is using words that no other prime minister in the country's history used for opposition leaders and urged him to maintain the dignity of his post.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said indications are there that Prime Minister Modi is rattled. It is evident from the manner in which he is speaking as was seen in Bihar, Kharge added.
"He is saying let them do 'mujra'...this is not how a PM (should talk). He should be talking in a statesman-like manner. He is inciting people and talking of Hindu-Muslim," Kharge said at a press conference in Shimla.
Tagging his remarks at the presser, Kharge, in a post in Hindi on X, said, "'M' reminds Modi ji of...'M' reminds him of 'mutton', 'M' reminds him of 'machli', 'M' reminds him of 'Mughal', 'M' reminds him of 'Mangalsutra', 'M' reminds him of 'mujra'. But 'M' does not remind him of 'maryada (dignity)', which should be there for the post of prime minister."
Hitting out at Modi over his remarks, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in a post in Hindi on X, said, "The dignity of the prime minister's language and the seats of the BJP are both continuously falling."
The opposition party's attack came after Modi vowed to thwart alleged attempts to rob Dalits and backward classes of reservation by the INDIA bloc, which he accused of "enslavement" and performing "mujra" for its Muslim vote bank.
"Bihar is the land that has given a new direction to the fight for social justice. I wish to declare on its soil that I will foil the plans of the INDIA bloc to rob the SCs, STs and OBC of their rights and divert those to Muslims. They may remain enslaved and perform 'mujra' to please their vote bank," the prime minister said, addressing a poll rally in Bihar.
Addressing a rally in Uttar Pradesh, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, "Have you heard the prime minister's speech in Bihar? He has used words that no other prime minister in the history of the country used for opposition leaders."
She said the entire country respects the post of prime minister and it is his responsibility to maintain the dignity of the post.
The prime minister has become nervous and has forgotten he is a representative of the country and of people, and such words should not have been spoken by him, Priyanka Gandhi said in Gorakhpur.
Reacting to Modi's remarks, Congress's media and publicity department head Pawan Khera, in a video statement, said, "Using such words is not befitting of the person sitting on the post of the prime minister."
In a post on X along with the video statement, Khera said, "Today, heard the word 'mujra' from the Prime Minister's mouth. Modiji, what is this? Why don't you take something?"
"... Perhaps campaigning in the sun has affected the mind too much," he said.
In his remarks, Modi also said the people of Bihar have been hurt by "insulting" remarks against migrants hailing from the state made by Congress leaders in Punjab and Telangana and DMK and TMC leaders in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal respectively. "These RJD people who keep doing 'mujra' with their lantern (RJD's poll symbol) do not have the courage to speak a word in protest," he said.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
