PM must retire, not fast: Congress taunt

Congress on Wednesday trained its guns on BJP MPs' nation-wide fast over disruption of Parliament by Opposition saying, if Prime Minister Narendra Modi felt so powerless, he should announce his retirement.

Mocking Modi's decision to join the fast by BJP MPs on Thursday, Congress President Rahul Gandhi hoped that the Prime Minister would shun food for a day over the custodial killings and incidents of rape in Uttar Pradesh.

"The barbarism unleashed against a father seeking justice for his (rape survivor) daughter in Uttar Pradesh has shamed humanity. We hope that the Prime Minister will also observe a fast very soon over atrocities against women, increasing lawlessness and anarchy under the BJP rule," Gandhi said on Twitter.

Congress leader Randeep Surjewala accused the Prime Minister of running away from responsibility by resorting to fast.

"If the government gives up its responsibilities and sits on a fast, who will run the government," Surjewala asked.

He said the observance of fast by Modi and BJP MPs was an attempt to divert the attention of the nation from burning issues such as agrarian distress, rising unemployment and bungling in the implementation of GST.

Sanyas or exile

"How can Modi government escape from responsibilities? Instead of scouting for photo opportunity under the pretext of fast, Modi should prepare for sanyas (retirement) and if it fails to rise above false promises, then be prepared for exile," Surjewala said.

On Monday, the BJP had dubbed the Congress' day-long fast to uphold communal harmony as a "farce" after senior Congress leaders were caught on camera having a hearty breakfast before heading for the event.

Surjewala also wanted the Prime Minister to observe fast as an apology to the countrymen for the 13 banking scams involving diamond merchants Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi.