New Delhi [India], December 30 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Monday launched a scathing attack against Congress leader and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi saying that he has flown abroad to celebrate when the entire nation is mourning the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
He alleged that Congress has "abused and insulted" Dr Singh.
He said Rahul Gandhi has flown abroad to ring in "the New Year even as the nation observes seven days of mourning".
"Congress doesn't care for Dr Manmohan Singh. They abused and insulted him during his lifetime They continue to do so now. Yesterday nobody went to collect his ashes. Congress even denied Bharat Ratna to Dr Manmohan Singh as per the latest disclosures. This is their true face," Poonawalla said on X.
"Rahul Gandhi has changed the meaning of LoP from Leader of Opposition to Leader of 'paryatan' and Leader of the party. At a time when the country is in grief over the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi has left for 'paryatan' and party, as per media reports...Rahul Gandhi and 'paryatan' is nothing new. At a time when the 26/11 attack happened in Mumbai, he was partying all night. He is not concerned about the demise of Dr Manmohan Singh..." he alleged while talking to the media.
BJP leder Amit Malviya also attacked Rahul Gandhi.
"While the country is mourning Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's demise, Rahul Gandhi has flown to Vietnam to ring in the New Year. Rahul Gandhi politicised and exploited Dr Singh's death for his expedient politics but his contempt for him is unmissable. The Gandhis and the Congress hate the Sikhs. Never forget that Indira Gandhi desecrated the Darbar Sahib," Malviya wrote in a post on X.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore hit back at the BJP over its allegations.
"When will the Sanghis stop this 'Take Diversion' politics? The way Modi denied Dr. Saheb a place for cremation on the Yamuna banks and how his ministers cornered Dr. Saheb's family is shameful. If Mr Gandhi travels privately, why does it bother you? Get well in New Year," Tagore posted on X.
Congress leader Pawan Khera said that senior party leaders did not accompany the family to gather and immerse the ashes of Manmohan Singh due to deference to the privacy of the family.
Manmohan Singh passed away at the age of 92 due to age-related medical issues in Delhi on December 26. On Saturday, Manmohan Singh was cremated with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi's Kashmere Gate in the presence of his family, friends, party colleagues, and government dignitaries.