Only the corrupt, communal and casteist people are upset with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday even as he attacked the “opportunistic” coming together of Opposition parties.
Mr. Naidu told reporters in New Delhi that the “unprincipled” alliance of Opposition parties would not last longer for want of an ideology and an “able and stable” leadership which, he claimed, is only with the National Democratic Alliance.
The Information and Broadcasting Minister also hit out at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for the latter's visit to Saharanpur and termed it “just another photo opportunity” for the Congress leader.
He suggested that “not much” should be read out of “shrewd politician” Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s meeting with the Prime Minister on Saturday.
Mr. Kumar on Friday skipped the luncheon meeting hosted by Congress president Sonia Gandhi. However, other JD(U) leaders, Sharad Yadav and KC Tyagi, were in attendance there.
“There are three categories of people who are upset with Modi: the corrupt, communal and casteist. They are unhappy because Mr. Modi has weeded them out.
“Opposition parties are trying to come together. This is an opportunistic, unprincipled alliance, which will not last long,” Mr. Naidu said when asked about Friday’s luncheon meet.
Asked if Mr. Kumar and Mr. Modi’s meet hinted at a reunion of the JD(U) and the BJP, he said, “These are speculations”.
In 2013, the JD(U) broke its 17-year alliance with the BJP after Mr. Modi was declared the prime ministerial candidate.
“Nothing will be kept secret. Kumar is a shrewd politician. A chief minister coming to meet the Prime Minister is a natural thing. The Prime Minister wants to work with the States. I do not think there is anything political in it,” he said.
To a query on the ban on the sale and purchase of cattle from animal markets for slaughter, he appealed to all not to give a communal colour to “the decision made in line with a Supreme Court directive”.
Mr. Naidu hailed the Modi government for working strictly on the “development agenda” in the past three years. He said 75 Central ministers would travel to all parts of the country to inform people about its achievements and initiatives.
Mr. Naidu released CDs/DVDs of short films made by Doordarshan on the “success” of the Centre’s schemes.
