Remarks against Rajiv show PM Modi\'s frustration: K C Venugopal

Bengaluru: Taking umbrage to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi's remarks against  former prime minister late Rajiv Gandhi, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal on  Sunday termed these remarks “sickening” and an explicit display of Mr Modi's "frustration and desperation".

Congress social media chief and noted actress Ramya too lashed out at him in her series of tweets. It may be recalled that at an election rally at Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, Mr Modi had slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi on the issue of corruption and said, “Your father (Rajiv Gandhi) was termed ‘Mr Clean’ by his followers but his life ended as ‘Bhrastachari number 1’ (corrupt number 1).”

In response to this jibe, Mr Gandhi tweeted to the PM that his 'Karma' would catch up with him.

Mr Venugopal in his media release said, "To use such repulsive and appalling language against a former prime minister on whom the nation had conferred its highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, and a martyr who sacrificed his life for the nation, is highly condemnable."  According to him, Mr Modi was attempting to spread untruths against one of the  most respectable political figures the country ever had due to the fear of losing the elections and a likely investigation into the Rafale fighter jet scam.

Taking to Twitter, Ms Ramya said Rajiv Gandhi was respected and loved by everyone, and that Modi should learn kindness from him. In a series of tweets, she recalled the day Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. "I remember as a 8 year old travelling in a bus with my mother when the news of Rajiv ji's death came. People were overcome with emotion, they burst out crying," she said and added, "And I remember them crying, men and women, young & old with their heads shaking in disbelief saying, he was a good man, he was a good man, shouldn't have happened. I was so overwhelmed, I cried too. This memory is etched on my mind. I cried the whole way & my mother grief stricken herself, tried to console me, We didn't eat that day. When I grew up & shared these memories with others I realised it just didn't happen to me- every other Indian had a similar story to share," she  claimed.

Ms Ramya said  she was taken aback by Mr Modi's comments which had hit a 'new low'. "And so when I heard Modi's comments on Rajiv ji, at first I was taken aback, couldn't believe anyone would say something like that, even if it means it's elections, but Modi had. And Modi is full of new lows," she tweeted and added,  "I thought I should remind Modi ji, Rajiv ji was adored, respected & loved. He was a good man. You can't take that away from him. But you can learn from him.” Meanwhile, condemning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy said the .

"PM @narendramodi's comments against former PM #RajivGandhi are not only despicable and highly condemnable, but also reflect the PM's state of mind. Fear and frustration have taken over his judgement. #ShameOnPMModi," Kumaraswamy tweeted.

KPCC president Dinesh Gundurao too flayed the prime minister's statement. Rao tweeted, "PM Modi's comment, 'Your father's (Rajiv Gandhi) life ended as Bhrashtachari No 1' exposes his filthy mind. Rajiv liberalised economy, ushered in IT revolution, reduced the voting age to 18 and introduced panchayat raj. Above all, he gave his life for India.”