Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa hits out at Narendra Modi

CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress President Partap Singh Bajwa today denounced the Narendra Modi government for allegedly "ignoring" the martyrdom day anniversary of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi who sacrificed her life on this day for the unity and integrity of the country.

"This betrays parochial, partisan and narrow-minded thinking of the ruling party leadership at the Centre as the Prime Minister represents the nation and not a particular political party.

"It is just more than the moral duty to observe the days associated with such towering national personalities," he said in a statement here.

Bajwa, however, appreciated Modi government for remembering Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

"We appreciate that this government has remembered Sardar V Patel but the legacy of such leaders should not be politicised nor appropriated for narrow vested interests," he said.

Ignoring of the anniversary of Indira just cannot be condoned as she symbolised unity and integrity of the country, he added.

Bajwa said BJP had been associated with sectarian approach but the vast and diverse country like India could not be governed with such prejudiced thinking.

He said the BJP might have gained electorally but the party leaders could not take the support of the people for guaranteed for all time to come and they would have to answerable about their acts of omission and commission.

He recalled that it were BJP leaders like Atal Behari Vajpayee who had euologised her as Durga and it was on the record.

He said this approach of the Modi government was unprecedented as no government at the centre had earlier ignored this day.

The Modi government was setting up wrong and unhealthy precedents for the polity of this country, he added.

Meanwhile, to commemorate the 30th Martyrdom Anniversary of Indira, Sankalp Divas was observed at Punjab Congress Bhawan, here.

Floral tributes were offered at the portrait of Indira by several party leaders from the state on the occasion.