'Ridiculous': Opposition Parties Slam Modi For Holding Mega Video-Conference

Opposition parties criticised Narendra Modi’s mega video-conference with BJP workers on Thursday at a time of escalated tensions between India and Pakistan.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday morning had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to postpone his mega video-conference with BJP workers, saying the nation’s energy must be spent on getting the IAF pilot back from Pakistan’s custody.

Kejriwal’s tweet came as the Congress alleged that Modi had “misplaced priorities” and was “desperate only for re-election”.

Under the BJP’s ‘Mera Booth Sabse Mazboot’, Modi held direct dialogue through the “world’s largest video conference” with about a crore BJP workers, volunteers and others. The conference came a day after Pakistan captured an IAF pilot after an air combat during which the two sides said they shot down each other’s warplanes.

In a tweet, Kejriwal asked the prime minister to “sternly” deal with Pakistan. 

Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, in a tweet, alleged that the prime minister was “hell-bent on creating a video conference record” when the entire country was praying for return of its pilot.

 BSP chief called Modi’s move to go ahead with the event “ridiculous” and a “betrayal of national sentiments”.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the silence of the country’s leadership was “deafening”.

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah read into why the prime minister was holding the event.

At the video conference , Modi’s first public address since Pakistan’s retaliation at the Line of Control, the prime minister said India would fight, live, work and win as one.

He also said it was necessary to ensure nothing was done to dent morale of security forces. 

Twenty-one opposition parties had on Wednesday expressed “deep anguish” over what they said was “blatant politicisation” of the sacrifices of armed forces and urged the government to take the nation into confidence on all measures to protect India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity.