’Won’t Surrender Mahatma Gandhi or Sardar Patel to Modi’: Congress Leader Tharoor

Mangalore Today News Network

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 25, 2014: Congress leader Shashi Tharoor congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for drawing the nation’s attention to the issue of cleanliness, but said that he was "not going to surrender Gandhiji or Sardar Patel to Mr Modi."

Mr Tharoor’s tough words for the Prime Minister came after he participated in a cleanliness campaign in his home constituency of Thiruvananthapuram.

Mr Tharoor said the commitment to cleanliness is a national commitment and not a commitment of any party.

"I refuse to cede the cleanliness of India to any political party," said Mr Tharoor. "I believe it is an issue for everybody and an opportunity for all of us to commit ourselves to the society."

PM Modi has often taken the names of the two national leaders in his speeches, more recently the Mahatma as part of the cleanliness campaign. The Prime Minister has also championed a project to build a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat.

Earlier this month, Mr Tharoor was asked to step down as Congress spokesperson, after the state unit’s complaints of the Congress MP’s pro-Modi reactions hurting the sentiments of party workers.

 

Courtesy: NDTV