Cong scared of BJP: Vijayan on absence of its, IUML flags at Rahul’s roadshow
Cong ashamed of IUML support, hence no flags in rally: Irani
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A day after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi kicked off his poll campaign for Wayanad Lok Sabha seat by holding a roadshow, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday alleged the grand old party did not show its and ally IUML’s flags during the event as it was scared of BJP.
The CM also hit out at the Congress MP alleging that Gandhi “lacked the courage” to publicly display his own party’s flag. Vijayan contended the stand taken by the Congress indicates it wants the votes of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) but it is not acknowledging the flag important to the IUML. “The Congress has fallen to a level where it is afraid of communal forces,” he claimed during a press meet.
Vijayan further alleged the grand old party was forgetting itself in front of the Sangh Parivar and was scared to show its own flag and “which is not expected from a party going to the Lok Sabha as the representatives of the people”.
“They (Congress) need clarity of thought and a firm stand as the people of Kerala will need representatives who can fight on national issues and stand with the public. The LDF is able to do both and that is why there is a popular sentiment in its favour,” he contended.
Rahul’s roadshow in Wayanad was visibly different from that in 2019 in the constituency when green flags of ally IUML outnumbered the Congress’s in the crowd.
Vijayan contended the flags were absent because during the LS polls in 2019, the BJP had taken a dig at Congress over IUML flags, saying it was difficult to discern whether it was India or Pakistan.
Vijayan alleged the Congress was choosing to disregard the history behind their flag during such a crucial election in fear
of the BJP.
WAYANAD: Union Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday lashed out at Congress MP Rahul Gandhi by accusing him of being ashamed of party ally IUML as its flag was not shown during his roadshow in this hill district. Irani, who was campaigning for the BJP in the hill constituency where Gandhi is seeking a re-election, said if he was ashamed of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), he should reject their support. The Union Minister for Women and Child Development also accused Gandhi of being silent with regard to the alleged misgovernance by the Left front in Kerala. “Scams in cooperative banks in Kerala, mismanagement of state funds, the silence of Rahul Gandhi on these issues, especially the misgovernance of the INDI alliance partner -- the Left front -- speaks volumes. Rahul Gandhi would rather have power than have good governance,” she alleged. Speaking to reporters after the filing of BJP state chief K Surendran’s nomination, she said she was shocked that Gandhi had allegedly accepted support of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political arm of the banned Popular Front of India.