Sonia bashing top on BJP agenda

KANPUR: Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, it appears, have a one-point agenda —Sonia bashing. Be it Narender Modi’s Gaurav Yatra or the party’s rallies being held in different parts of the country, the Congress president is their bete noir. Put to rest by Supreme Court at one point of time, the foreign origin issue was raked up by Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa in New Delhi not too long ago.That gave BJP the much-needed lead to carry out a well-orchestrated campaign against her. And, they are doing it at every possible opportunity.
The party leaders took pot shots at her at the Phoolbagh rally here on Thursday. Interestingly, each one aimed in different directions. Former chief minister of UP, Rajnath Singh, who is the national general secretary, took her on the nationality issue, BJP chief Venkaiah Naidu said: “It is nepotism “ And the party’s state president, Vinay Katiyar doesn’t think much of her leadership qualities. He mocked the Congress workers for giving her “undue importance�.
Rajnath was vocal and his comments against Sonia at the public address bordered on sarcasm. He advocated an amendment in the Constitution to prevent a person of foreign origin from becoming the prime minister of the country. He thundered: “Is there any crisis of leadership among the Indian women; have the Indian women stopped giving birth to strong girls who could lead the nation.� Rajnath also took a dig at the Congress leaders; “Can’t the Congress leaders find a suitable Indian woman to lead their party?� he asked.�
He said that there were many capable and competent women politicians in the country and the Congress workers should select any Indian woman for the leadership instead of foreign born Sonia. Venkaiah Naidu took a completely different line. He slammed the Congress for promoting nepotism in the party and stated that Sonia Gandhi was offered leadership in keeping with “familywad�. Naidu remarked; “After Jawaharlal, Indira Gandhi became Congress leader, then came her son Rajiv and now Sonia. Next will be chhota Gandhi (referring to Rahul)�.
Vinay Katiyar teased the Congress workers for their blind faith in Sonia. He quipped: “I saw a Congress worker selling Sonia chaleesa at a public meeting ground. I advised him to recite Hanuman chaleesa. It appears they worship Sonia, they have blind faith in her.�