'Good sign' Modi is visiting mosque in UAE: Digvijay Singh

BENGALURU: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to a mosque during his UAE visit is a "good sign" as earlier he "did not wish" to wear a skull cap, Congress leader Digvijay Singh today said.

"I'm happy that a person who did not wish to wear a skull cap is visiting a mosque, it is a good sign," Singh told reporters here.

A visit to the Sheikh Zayed grand mosque in Abu Dhabi is part of the Prime Minister's visit to UAE from Saturday during which he seeks to enhance cooperation in energy and trade and reach out to investors there to promote India as an attractive business destination.

In 2011, when Modi was the Gujarat Chief Minister, he had refused to put on a skull cap offered by a Muslim cleric during his sadbhavana (harmony) fast in Ahmedabad, stoking a controversy. His detractors had latched onto the issue to attack him.

Condemning External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's statements against Nehru-Gandhi family in Parliament, Singh said, "She had made unnecessary remarks about the family."

Recalling the contributions of Nehru-Gandhi family to the country, he said, "Arun Jaitley wants to know the profession of Rahul Gandhi, wants to know the profession of Sonia Gandhi. May I ask you what is the profession of Narendra Modi?"

"These personal attacks by the BJP are only to hide their issues which are in public domain today. We will take these issues to the people. Ultimately it is the people of this country who will decide," he added.

Defending his party's stand of not allowing Parliament to function, he alleged "impropriety" on part of Sushma Swaraj, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

He said "in such cases it was usual practice of BJP and its allies during the ten years of UPA rule to obstruct the proceedings of the House and demand resignation of the Ministers".

Rejecting government's allegation that Congress is against the growth of the country, Singh questioned why BJP and its leaders including Narendra Modi as the then Chief Minister of Gujarat did not support the GST bill during UPA rule, if it was so important.

Questioning the Prime Minister's absence from the Lok Sabha when the GST bill was voted, he said, "Country wants to know about his commitment on this, but he is quiet... for him silence may be convenient, but the country wants an answers."

Reminding the promises made by BJP during Lok Sabha polls, he said, "The fact remains that Indian economy is not growing. What steps have they taken for Indian economy to grow....to bring back black money...."

Speaking on government's Pakistan policy, Singh said, "Please compare Narendra Modi's speeches before elections with his stand now."

"Today situation in the Kashmir Valley is such that there is complete polarisation between Hindus and Muslims. This is a dangerous trend that the people of this country must realise. Polarisation is detrimental to the internal security of this country....," he said.