J&K angle in Guj Polls makes Modi furious

JAMMU: In a rarest of the rare case, tweet of a Jammu & Kashmir-based Youth Congress worker Saturday created commotion in the political circles of the country, which even forced the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a comment on that during a public rally in Gujarat.
In a damage-control reflex, the Congress denied knowing the worker, even though he was appointed as Joint Secretary of party’s J&K unit during last Assembly elections (2014).

As the things unfold, addressing a political rally in Lunawada district of north Gujarat today, Prime Minister referred to a tweet by one Salman Nizami, who he claimed was a Congress worker and also close to Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, who is going to head the party as its chief soon.

“Congress is asking, who are my father and mother. I ask you brothers and sisters, do we talk in such a language with even an enemy? A responsible Congress leader asked me that,” he pointed out, adding, “Rahul Gandhi's party is asking me, who are my parents. The people of my country are my parents. I am the son of this soil, this Lunawada.”
“There is a youth Congress leader Salman Nizami, who is even campaigning for Congress in Gujarat. He wrote on Twitter about Rahulji's father and grandmother. That is alright but he also asks, ‘Modi tell me who is your Mother, who is your father,” reports quoted Prime Minister having said.

Lashing out at the Congress leader, the Prime Minister accused the party of abusing and mocking him.

“I want to tell all Congress leaders, who are abusing me, mocking my poor family, asking who my parents are. This nation is my everything. Every moment of my time is devoted to India and 125 crore Indians,” he said.

Earlier in the day, Nizami had tweeted “Rahul Gandhi, son of Rajiv Gandhi. Sacrificed his life for India. Rahul Gandhi, grandson of Indira Gandhi. Sacrificed her life for India. Rahul Gandhi, grandson of Jawaharlal Nehru, fought for India's independence. Narendra Modi, son of ...? Grandson of ...?”

Meanwhile, the Congress party denied knowing Salman Nizami.

“Nizami, who? Is he your (Modi’s) man? We don’t know, who this Nizami is? He doesn’t hold any position in the party,” said veteran Congress leader Rajiv Shukla.

But contrary to Shukla’s utter denial, it may be recalled here that Salman Nizami was appointed as Joint Secretary of Jammu & Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) during last Assembly elections (2014) in the State. Moreover, prior to this Nizami was an active scribe and has worked with a local newspaper.

It is important to mention here that voting took off today for Phase 1 of Assembly elections in Gujarat and very often there is a war of words between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress scion Rahul Gandhi in their respective rallies in that State.