"For him, LoP means Leader of Partying": BJP's Poonawalla slams Rahul Gandhi for Vietnam visit

New Delhi [India], December 31 (ANI): BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla on Tuesday slammed the Congress leader and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his visit to Vietnam during a period of national mourning after the demise of former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, stating that for Gandhi the term LoP means "Leader of Partying."
Poonawalla accused Gandhi of prioritising a vacation while the country mourned, pointing out that the Congress leader's actions were disrespectful, especially given his public admiration for former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, calling him a "father figure."
"The country is in mourning, and the LoP is partying. For him, LoP means Leader of Partying. Vacationing is more important for him... especially when he calls Dr Manmohan Singh a father figure," Ponnawalla said.
Congress leader Manickam Tagore had defended his party leader saying that these were just diversion tactics from the BJP.
"When will the Sanghis stop this 'Take Diversion' politics? The way Modi denied Dr. Saheb a place for cremation on the Yamuna banks and how his ministers cornered Dr. Saheb's family is shameful. If Mr Gandhi travel privately, why does it bother you?," he said.
Meanwhile, Shehzad Poonawala further criticised the Gandhi family for being absent during Dr. Singh's 'asthi visarjan,' alleging that the family's absence was due to the lack of media presence at the event.
"His whole family was absent during Dr Manmohan's asthi visarjan because no cameras were present there," he added.
Poonawalla said that the Congress party has "abused and insulted" Dr Singh.
"While the country is mourning former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's demise, Rahul Gandhi has flown abroad to ring in the New Year even as the nation observes seven days of mourning. Congress doesn't care for Dr Manmohan Singh. They abused and insulted him during his lifetime. They continue to do so now. Yesterday nobody went to collect his ashes. Congress even denied the Bharat Ratna to Dr Manmohan Singh as per the latest disclosures. This is their true face," Poonawalla wrote on X.
Dr Singh passed away at the age of 92 due to age-related medical issues in Delhi on December 26. On Saturday, Singh was cremated with full state honours at Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi's Kashmere Gate in the presence of his family, friends, colleagues, and government dignitaries. (ANI)