‘Surender Modi’ tweet intensifies BJP backlash against Rahul Gandhi, Congress & all critics
☰
Politics

‘Surender Modi’ tweet intensifies BJP backlash against Rahul Gandhi, Congress & all critics

Rahul Gandhi has questioned the Modi govt for ‘surrendering’ territory to China, but the BJP has hit back by calling him ‘traitor Gandhi’, among other things.

Shanker Arnimesh    
Screenshot of Rahul Gandhi's tweeting describing the PM as 'Surender Modi'

Screenshot of Rahul Gandhi's tweeting describing the PM as 'Surender Modi'

New Delhi: Amid an increasing number of questions about the India-China tensions at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, the ruling BJP has decided to hit back at the critics of the Narendra Modi government in general, and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in particular.

In the last couple of days, a gamut of BJP leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party chief J.P. Nadda, its spokespersons and IT head Amit Malviya, have slammed Gandhi and blamed his Congress for committing many historical wrongs vis-à-vis India’s relationship with China.

The counter-attacks increased after Gandhi punned on the PM’s name in a tweet Sunday, calling him ‘Surender Modi’ for ‘surrendering’ territory to China. The tweet also featured a Japan Times article titled ‘India’s appeasement policy towards China unravels’.

The previous day, Gandhi had tweeted about “surrendering Indian territory” and raised two questions.

Also read: No one entered Indian territory, no border posts were occupied: PM at all-party meet on China

Concerted backlash

Gandhi’s constant questioning and criticism of the Modi government has received flak from many BJP leaders, but the ‘Surender Modi’ tweet invited a fresh backlash.

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told ThePrint that “even enemy countries have not used such language for Modi ji. Rahul Gandhi has lost all decency, he should apologise immediately”.

Another spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, called the Congress leader “traitor Gandhi” on a TV channel.

“The PM spoke strongly, delivered a strong message to China… Every inch of our land is protected, the armed forces have been given a free hand. The problem is with a 50-year-old amateur child. He does not believe the Indian Army, he does not believe the Indian Prime Minister, he does not have faith in anybody,” Bhatia said.

“I say Rahul Gandhi is traitor Gandhi. Any citizen who weakens his own country and strengthens the enemy country — and China is an enemy country — he is a traitor, and he has proved it.”

Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar poked fun at Gandhi for “achieving his life goal of being an online troll”.

Assam cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also weighed in.

Meanwhile, the BJP’s IT head Amit Malviya made insinuations about Gandhi in his tweets.

Malviya also slammed retired Army personnel who have been critical of the Modi government, like journalist Col. Ajai Shukla and columnist Lt Gen H.S. Panag.

Also read: Congress and BJP both want action against China incursions, but only when in opposition

‘Congress demoralising Army’

BJP chief Nadda, while addressing party workers in Rajasthan and Telangana Saturday, had accused the Congress of being irresponsible, and said its leaders were demoralising the nation and soldiers.

“Congress leaders are tweeting to demoralise the Army every day. Why is the Congress party showing off its intelligence? He (Rahul Gandhi) asked why the soldiers went there unarmed… Don’t you know international law? Why are you exposing the limits of your knowledge? You have caught on to an issue that could demoralise the soldiers,” Nadda said, adding this was “not the culture of an Indian family”.

Home Minister Amit Shah, meanwhile, quoted the father of an injured solider who had criticised Gandhi.

“A brave armyman’s father speaks and he has a very clear message for Mr. Rahul Gandhi. At a time when the entire nation is united, Mr. Rahul Gandhi should also rise above petty politics and stand in solidarity with national interest,” he tweeted.

BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, in a TV interview, blamed Congress prime ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru to P.V. Narasimha Rao for their “blunders” and asked the Congress why it was asking the government to share strategic information with journalists and opposition parties.

BJP organisation secretary B.L. Santhosh has also been tweeting against the Congress’ questioning the last few days.

Will get more aggressive

A senior BJP leader told ThePrint that in the coming days, the BJP’s counter-attack against critics will get more aggressive.

“In the all-party meeting, everyone except the Congress supported PM Modi after listening to his detailed presentation. The Congress wants to score political points at this juncture, and that is unacceptable,” the leader said.

“We can’t concede political space. People trust the PM, and we will establish that Rahul is not standing with the Army and the country in this time of crisis,” the leader added.

Also read: India’s Socialist leaders warned China was bigger enemy, but both BJP and Congress ignored