NEW DELHI: Amid intensified tussle over demonetisation, the BJP brass, including party president Amit Shah and Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, took on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi for using picture of an ex-serviceman — Nand Lal from Gurgaon — to highlight the woes faced by people post-invalidation of high currency notes in November last year.
Gandhi had circulated the 2016 picture of Nand Lal standing in a long queue with folded hands and tears in eyes with the quote — "A drop of tear is a warning for the ruling government, you couldn't see a sea of tears." Taking a cue from him, others in the opposition also furiously shared the ex-Armyman's photograph. However, Lal on Wednesday went on to endorse the note ban and functioning of the Prime Minister.
"There were problems initially after currency was banned. But I have no problems now. I respect the government decision," said Lal in an interview to a Hindi daily on Tuesday. He said after serving in the Army for 20 years, he has high regard for the government and its decisions. "I had cried as a woman had stepped on my leg," recalled Lal.
Gleeful BJP members promptly capitalised on his comments, accusing Gandhi of stooping to canards and lies to misguide people on the government moves like demonetisation. "Rahul Gandhi has used photo of Nand Lal, who supports demonetisation. Congress talks about poor but works for one single family. Congress has launched campaign for 15 years to insult people of Gujarat. INC now stands for Incorrect News Congress," said Shah in a statement.
In his tweet, the BJP chief alleged that Congress made fool of the people to gain political power by using lies, fake tears, fake photos and duped the country. "Congress's actual face has been exposed after dawn of a new India," tweeted Shah soon after the Congress vice-president's tweet.
Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Gandhi of using the photo of a former soldier for his "nefarious designs" and cited Lal's remarks favouring the note ban decision. "Some fake photograph of his has been used by Rahul Gandhi to criticise (demonetisation). Nand Lal has been a distinguished soldier of the Army. He has retired. He has publicly supported Narendra Modi and demonetisation. It is completely unfair," Prasad said.
"This is the level of Rahul Gandhi. He is determined to make Indian National Congress the Indian Fake News Congress. At least, he must stop insulting soldiers for his nefarious designs," he said.
The minister also took a dig at Gandhi over his criticism of Gujarat's "hstoric" development under BJP and his tweet of his dog 'Pidi'.
Prasad alleged that it was not the first time that Congress had tried to mislead the people. He said immediately after demonetisation, a senior Congress leader who is also a minister in the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka, took to twitter his plight after failure to withdraw currency from ATM. Later, IT raids on him yielded crores in cash stowed away in his different premises, Prasad claimed.
BJP and Congress sparred over the note ban issue as the opposition party observed 'Black Day' on the anniversary of demonetisation decision. However, BJP marked it as 'Anti-Black Money Day' and fanned out its members across the country to share their views with the people.
Gandhi had circulated the 2016 picture of Nand Lal standing in a long queue with folded hands and tears in eyes with the quote — "A drop of tear is a warning for the ruling government, you couldn't see a sea of tears." Taking a cue from him, others in the opposition also furiously shared the ex-Armyman's photograph. However, Lal on Wednesday went on to endorse the note ban and functioning of the Prime Minister.
"एक आँसू भी हुकूमत के लिए ख़तरा है तुमने देखा नहीं आँखों का समुंदर होना" https://t.co/r9NuCkmO6t
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG)
1510109005000
"There were problems initially after currency was banned. But I have no problems now. I respect the government decision," said Lal in an interview to a Hindi daily on Tuesday. He said after serving in the Army for 20 years, he has high regard for the government and its decisions. "I had cried as a woman had stepped on my leg," recalled Lal.
Gleeful BJP members promptly capitalised on his comments, accusing Gandhi of stooping to canards and lies to misguide people on the government moves like demonetisation. "Rahul Gandhi has used photo of Nand Lal, who supports demonetisation. Congress talks about poor but works for one single family. Congress has launched campaign for 15 years to insult people of Gujarat. INC now stands for Incorrect News Congress," said Shah in a statement.
In his tweet, the BJP chief alleged that Congress made fool of the people to gain political power by using lies, fake tears, fake photos and duped the country. "Congress's actual face has been exposed after dawn of a new India," tweeted Shah soon after the Congress vice-president's tweet.
Ravi Shankar Prasad accused Gandhi of using the photo of a former soldier for his "nefarious designs" and cited Lal's remarks favouring the note ban decision. "Some fake photograph of his has been used by Rahul Gandhi to criticise (demonetisation). Nand Lal has been a distinguished soldier of the Army. He has retired. He has publicly supported Narendra Modi and demonetisation. It is completely unfair," Prasad said.
"This is the level of Rahul Gandhi. He is determined to make Indian National Congress the Indian Fake News Congress. At least, he must stop insulting soldiers for his nefarious designs," he said.
The minister also took a dig at Gandhi over his criticism of Gujarat's "hstoric" development under BJP and his tweet of his dog 'Pidi'.
Prasad alleged that it was not the first time that Congress had tried to mislead the people. He said immediately after demonetisation, a senior Congress leader who is also a minister in the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka, took to twitter his plight after failure to withdraw currency from ATM. Later, IT raids on him yielded crores in cash stowed away in his different premises, Prasad claimed.
BJP and Congress sparred over the note ban issue as the opposition party observed 'Black Day' on the anniversary of demonetisation decision. However, BJP marked it as 'Anti-Black Money Day' and fanned out its members across the country to share their views with the people.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
