New Delhi, June 27 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders on Saturday came out in support of former President late Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee after the latter recalled her father calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi India’s first directly elected PM, terming her remark as a “direct attack on Congress’ dynasty politics”.

However, the Congress hit back claiming Sharmistha Mukherjee is attempting to “impress” the BJP leadership.

BJP leader Rohan Gupta noted that Pranab Mukherjee was known for keeping his words in a straightforward manner.

“This opinion of him (late Pranab Mukherjee) is a direct attack on dynasty politics. Now the Congress has to acknowledge that if a senior leader of their party accepted this, then it is indeed a reality. The Congress has never introspected that is why its downfall is evident,” he told IANS.

“Public also accepts this,” Gupta added.

BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh echoed similar views, saying: “In the Congress party, dynastic and corrupt princes and princesses have always been promoted, while capable, experienced, and senior leadership has been pushed aside, suppressed, and insulted.”

“Bharat Ratna and former President Pranab Mukherjee had said on several public platforms that PM Narendra Modi’s leadership is the need of the hour. He had said that under PM Modi’s leadership, India would progress rapidly,” he added.

“The dream that he (Pranab Mukherjee) had seen for India under PM Modi’s leadership, is turning into reality,” Chugh asserted.

BJP MP Rahul Sinha also said: “It is true, those who became Prime Minister earlier could do so because of quota. Only PM Modi was chosen, not only by the party but by the electors. He is the first elected PM of the nation, the rest were nominated.”

However, Congress Spokesperson Surendra Rajput accused Sharmishtha Mukherjee of insulting her father and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee “by telling lies”.

“If Pranab Mukherjee has mentioned this anywhere then it must be brought to light,” he told IANS.

He alleged: “Otherwise, since the time Sharmishtha Mukherjee joined the BJP, the party is not giving her any importance. That is why she is misquoting her father in order to impress the BJP.”

Taking a jibe at the BJP, Congress MP Manoj Kumar said: “It is true, good work has been done like ‘vote chori’ and ‘seat chori’. Inflation, including prices of petrol and diesel are sky high, paper leaks have been taking place…”

“She (Sharmishtha Mukherjee) has mentioned about a lot of things, but since she is the daughter of that person (Pranab Mukherjee) who has contributed significantly to India’s politics, she should have also spoken about inflation, unemployment and other issues bothering the citizens,” he added.

–IANS

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