Shotgun tells Modi not to concoct stories

Actor-turned-BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for raking up "unsubstantiated and unbelievable" stories linking Pakistan against political opponents.

Sinha's comments came even as the BJP rallied behind Modi a day after he  claimed that Congress leaders, including former  prime minister Manmohan Singh, met the Pakistani High Commissioner here.

The BJP asked why it took the Congress over 48 hours to accept that a "hush, hush" meeting with the Pakistani envoy and a former Pakistani minister did take place at Mani Shankar Aiyar's residence.

But Sinha's tweet came as a sour note. "Sir! Just to win elections anyhow, and that too at the fag end of the process, is it a must to come up with and endorse new, unsubstantiated and unbelievable stories every day against political opponents? Now linking them to Pakistan High Commissioner and Generals? Incredible," Sinha tweeted.

Sinha also advised Modi to stop communalising the atmosphere and return to the promises that the BJP had made in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

"Sir! Instead of new twists and turns, stories and cover ups, let's go straight to the promises that we made, regarding housing, development, employment of youth, health, vikas model," he added.

In another tweet, Sinha said, "Let's stop communalising the atmosphere and go back to healthy politics and healthy elections. Jai Hind."

Meanwhile, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao  asked in a tweet, "Why has it taken 48 hours for Dr (Manmohan) Singh to accept the meeting took place. Why did the Congress leaders deny yesterday (Sunday)."

Rao's remarks came soon after Manmohan Singh issued a statement accusing Modi of spreading "falsehood and canard" in a desperate bid to win the Gujarat elections and asked him to "apologise to the nation".

Modi on Sunday had accused a group of Congress leaders of meeting the Pakistan High Commissioner at Mani Shankar Aiyar's residence before the latter called him (Modi) "neech".  He said the meeting at Aiyar's residence was also attended by former Vice-President Hamid Ansari and the former PM. (end)