Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav responded on Tuesday to the controversy sparked by his father Lalu Yadav’s ‘no family’ remark about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Tejashwi stated that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is attempting to divert attention with its ‘Modi ka Parivaar’ (Modi’s family) rhetoric.
Earlier this week, Lalu Yadav claimed that Modi was not a true Hindu because he did not shave his head after his mother passed away and asserted that Modi had no family. In response to this personal attack, numerous BJP leaders added the ‘Modi ka Parivaar’ suffix to their social media account names in solidarity with the Prime Minister.
Tejashwi Yadav expressed satisfaction that his father Lalu Yadav had such an impact on the BJP. He stated, ” I am glad that the words of Lalu ji have so much impact. But what about issues like poverty and unemployment that he had raised? He spoke of so many things,” according to PTI.
Tejashwi Yadav questioned why, if PM Modi considers the entire nation his family, his government suppressed the farmers’ protests near Delhi. Regarding his father’s remark that Modi is not a true Hindu, he mentioned that he adheres to Hindu traditions, having his daughter undergo the mundan (head shaving) ceremony, in contrast to the Prime Minister.
“We are a devout Hindu family with a temple at our home where Aarti is performed every morning and evening. I got my daughter to undergo the mundan (tonsure) ceremony. Why the PM chose not to follow the well-established tradition is for him to answer,” Yadav explained.
Meanwhile, PM Modi responded to Lalu Yadav’s remark in Telangana, stating, “When I oppose familism and say that it is against democracy and not allowing new talent to emerge, they say ‘Modi has no family.’ Do they have the license to steal? I have seen CMs who have family members in high posts in their respective states. Is this democracy? They say their fight is against Modi’s ideology. They say Modi has no family. Is this an ideological battle? I will tell you what an ideological battle is — they say family first, Modi says nation first.”
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman criticized Lalu Yadav’s remarks, stating that such comments were not expected from a senior leader and are highly condemnable. She emphasized the need to maintain dignity in politics and commended the BJP’s response to Lalu Yadav’s comments against the PM.
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