"Doesn't behove an Opposition leader...": Meghwal hits back at CM Stalin over remarks against PM Modi

Bikaner (Rajasthan) [India], April 6 (ANI): Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal on Saturday hit back at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin over his remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi that the more he visits his state the better it will be for the ruling DMK going into the Lok Sabha polls.
Speaking to ANI on Saturday, the senior BJP leader from Rajasthan said such remarks against the holder of the country's most powerful office were unwarranted in a democracy.
Reminding the DMK supremo of Prime Minister Modi being ranked among the top global leaders by a survey by a US-based agency, the Union Minister said, "A survey by a US-based agency ranked Prime Minister Modi among the most popular world leaders. Hence, it, perhaps, doesn't behove an Opposition leader to make such distasteful and objectionable remarks against the PM in a democracy. I condemn this statement by MK Stalin."
Invoking Stalin's son and state minister Udhayanidhi's rant against Sanatan Dharma, Meghwal said, "They have been making unsavoury remarks against Sanatana Dharma and dividing the country into North and South on the lines of regional identity. However, such ploys are doomed to fail this time as the people across the country are with PM Modi. We are fighting the divisive forces in the battle to restore democracy."
In an interview with a local news channel earlier, the Tamil Nadu CM said the more PM Modi visits the state, the more it will work in DMK's favour, adding that he has been spreading falsehoods in the state.
Taking a dig at the Congress over its 'Nyay Patra' or manifesto for the Lok Sabha polls, the Union Minister said it would fail to find favour with the public.
"It wouldn't hold any sway over the people. The Congress know they aren't coming back to power. Even the people know that the Congress are staring at a rout. They wouldn't even get 54 seats in the Lok Sabha," he said.
Amid events across the country to mark the BJP's Foundation Day, Meghwal, on Saturday, borrowed the words of former PM and party stalwart, Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee, saying, "The BJP was founded on April 6, 1980. On this day, Atal Bihari Vajpayee said--'Andera chatega, suraj niklega aur kamal khilega' (the darkness will pass, the sun will burst through and the lotus will bloom). His words turned prophetic as the lotus has, indeed, bloomed across the country."
On Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's scheduled public rallies in his home state, Meghwal said he would go to the people during his visit to Rajasthan and apprise them of the key takeaways of the governance under the BJP-led NDA at the Centre.
"His work to make the country self-reliant in defence, as well as the steps taken by the PM in this direction in the last 10 years is something that we will brief the public on going into the elections. Rajnath-ji will arrive in Rajasthan today," he said.
Rajasthan will go to polls in two phases--April 19 and April 26. Polling for 12 Lok Sabha seats will be held in the first phase on April 19, while the remaining 13 seats will be polled in the second phase on April 26.
In the first phase, voting will be held in 12 constituencies--Ganganagar, Bikaner, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Jaipur Rural, Jaipur, Alwar, Bharatpur, Karauli-Dholpur, Dausa and Nagaur.
In the second phase, 13 constituencies--Tonk-Sawai Madhopur, Ajmer, Pali, Jodhpur, Barmer, Jalore, Udaipur, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Rajsamand, Bhilwara, Kota and Jhalawar-Baran, will go to polls.
The elections to 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases, starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast votes in the seven-phased elections.
The counting of the votes is scheduled for June 4. (ANI)