Congress targets Modi over border killings, fitness challenge
New Delhi, June 13: As four BSF troopers died on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir, the Congress on Wednesday termed the government "weak and cowardly" and slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for posting a fitness challenge on Twitter the same day.
"I would hold Modi government's weak policy on national security responsible for this. It has been proved that Modi government is weak and cowardly," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari told reporters, adding: "I don't know why PM becomes weak in front of Pakistan. This is a matter of concern."
"It is very unfortunate that when soldiers are dying on the border, Prime Minister is busy giving himself fitness certificate. This is an insult to those jawans. He should have expressed his condolences, instead he has insulted them by doing so," he added.
In a tweet Modi had said: "I am delighted to nominate the following for the #FitnessChallenge: Karnataka's CM Shri @hd_kumaraswamy. India's pride and among the highest medal winners for India in the 2018 CWG, @manikabatra_TT."
"I appeal to every Indian to devote some part of the day towards fitness. Practice any set of exercises you are comfortable with and you will see the positive difference it will make in your life! #FitnessChallenge #HumFitTohIndiaFit," he also said.
Four Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were killed and five injured on Wednesday in an unprovoked Pakistan ceasefire violation on the international border in Jammu and Kashmir.
Condoling their death, the Congress party demanded that the government provide all benefits to the families that a soldier deserves.
Tiwari said killing of soldiers on the borders had increased over the years. "In 2014, three soldiers had died; in 2015, 10 died; in 2016, 13 soldiers died; 18 soldiers died in 2017; and in 2018, till June 27 jawans have died."
"We have lost 71 jawans and more than 100 civilians. Modi is good at giving speeches but not at delivering things. This is a very sad, unfortunate incident," said Tiwari.
The leader also reminded Modi of his "56-inch chest", his promise of "10 heads in response to one" and also his "threat of not letting anyone see eye-to-eye on the borders".
He also slammed the Modi government over inflation saying it was the highest in the past four months, which is now 4.87 per cent.
"Inflation is the direct contribution of Modi government. International crude oil price has reduced to around $70 per barrel, but the petrol and diesel prices have increased, owing to which transportation cost also went up and it led to price rise. Only Modi government is responsible for this," said Tiwari.
He also said: "Around Rs 32,361 crore bank fraud has come to the fore, What happened to his slogan 'Na khaunga, na khane dunga?'"
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'Rear-guard action': BJP over Mamata accepting sports minister's resignation after Messi event
New Delhi (PTI): The BJP on Tuesday alleged that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's accepting Aroop Biswas' resignation as the state sports minister is nothing but a "rear-guard action" to douse public anger over the mismanagement of football icon Lionel Messi's event last week.
BJP co-in-charge for West Bengal Amit Malviya alleged that this is also an "open confession" that the Messi event fiasco was not accidental but a government-manufactured disaster, borne out of the poor governance of Banerjee, her ministers and the state bureaucracy.
Banerjee on Tuesday accepted Biswas' resignation as the sports minister in the wake of the controversy over the mismanagement of football icon Messi's event last week, a senior leader of the ruling TMC said.
Biswas, who had written to the chief minister seeking to be relieved of his responsibilities as sports minister, will continue as a cabinet minister, retaining charge of the power department.
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Reacting to the development, Malviya said in a post on X, "TMC Sports Minister Aroop Biswas resigns after the Messi fiasco and Mamata Banerjee accepts it in record time."
"Do not mistake this for accountability; this is nothing but a rear-guard action to douse public anger. anger! This is not 'Raj Dharma'," he added.
The BJP leader alleged that the incident was the outcome of "loot" of common people which is "so synonymous" with the TMC.
The incident was also the outcome of the "shameless VIP culture that TMC thrives on and deep-rooted cronyism promoted by Banerjee," he charged.
Malviya further alleged that Biswas' resignation exposes a "collective failure of Mamata Banerjee, her partisan bureaucracy, and her crony cabinet".
"This is a symbolic sacrifice, a political hoax, soon to be buried under layers of bureaucracy, with no justice, no accountability, and no remorse," the BJP leader said, adding, "No resignation will bring back the time lost, the money wasted, or the stolen chance for football lovers to witness Messi in Kolkata."
