The Congress on Friday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking any questions in his first appearance at a press conference, with party president Rahul Gandhi saying “showing up is half the battle”.
The Congress charge against Modi and Amit Shah was led byGandhi after the PM showed up on the dais for a scheduled press conference bythe BJP chief, who gave a report card on the performance of the NDA governmentas well as party’s extensive electioneering.
“Congratulations Modi Ji. Excellent Press Conference!Showing up is half the battle. Next time Mr Shah may even allow you to answer acouple of questions. Well done,” Gandhi tweeted.
Gandhi said it is “very impressive” to see the PMaddress his first press conference a few days before the Lok Sabha electionresults are out. “The PM’s firstpress conference is coming 4-5 days before the election results. The PM isaccompanying Amit Shah in the press briefing. It is unprecedented. Very good. Iam told the doors have also been shut, as journalists who want to ask questionshave been blocked. It is a great press conference,” he told reporters.
Gandhi addressed a press conference almost at the same timeas Amit Shah and Modi did. “I wantto ask the Prime Minister why he did not hold a debate on the Rafale issue? Iwant to ask you why did you give Rs 30,000 crore to Anil Ambani. I was ready tocome to Race Course road to hold a debate with Modi,” Gandhi said, posinga question at his press conference.
The Anil Ambani firm and the government have repeatedlydenied allegations of corruption in the Rafale deal.
Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel said in a tweet,”Never seen a press conference where someone else is answering questionson your behalf. There was no need to lower the dignity of the office of thePrime Minister just to prove a point.”
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also said onTwitter, “Modi ji’s first and last press conference became Amit Shah’scrutches…One hour speech, tired journalists and sermons to them, no question,no answer.”
Biggest party should lead government, says Surjewala
Holding that the biggest political party should get a chanceto lead the government, the Congress on Thursday expressed hope that it willemerge as such after the results of Lok Sabha elections are out on May 23.
“Indian National Congress certainly believes and, subject tothe final outcome on 23 May, that we will be the biggest political party in thecountry with the blessings of the people of India. Naturally, the biggestpolitical party should get a chance to lead. However, what will happen on 23May, I am not going to pre-empt and pre-judge today,” Congress Communicationsin charge Randeep Singh Surjewala told reporters here.
He said various opposition parties will get together andtake an appropriate call on government formation after the results. Asked what if no party gets a simple majority inLok Sabha, Surjewala said the norm is fairly well established, that “whoeverhas the largest number in pre-poll alliance is normally called first, as laiddown by the Supreme Court.”