UP polls: PM Modi lost his smile after SP-Congress alliance was formed, says Rahul

Banda (Uttar Pradesh) [India], Feb.20 (ANI): Instituting a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narenrda Modi, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi claimed that the former 'lost his smile' after the Samajwadi Party sewed an alliance with the grand old party for the assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh. "Earlier, Modi was in good mood. But now, he has lost his smile," Rahul said, while addressing a poll rally at Banda in Uttar Pradesh. Rahul Gandhi minced no words in criticising Prime Minister Modi over his 'Diwali Ramzan' remark. "When he is afraid of something, he resorts to spreading hatred. He makes people fight," he said. Earlier on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi said that no government must discriminate the public on the lines of religion and caste. "Ramzan me bijli athi hai tho Diwali me bhi ani chahiye; Bhedbhav nhi hona chahiye (If there is electricity during Ramadan then it must be available during Diwali too; there shouldn't be any discrimination),"he said. This created a furore in the political circles drawing extreme reactions from various factions. The other statement which seems to have invited the wrath of the Congress was when he said, "Gaon me kabristan banta hai to shamshaan bhi banna chahiye" (If land is given for cemetery in a village, it should be given for cremation ground also). (ANI)