Modi has insulted U’khand people with his earthquake remark: Congress

DEHRADUN: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took a jibe at the Congress with his “finally the earthquake did come” statement in the Parliament, the Congress top brass slammed him for insulting the people of

Uttarakhand

, which is known as Dev-bhoomi – the land of Gods. While Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the PM had mocked the tragedy of Uttarakhand, chief minister Harish Rawat asserted that Modi was rubbing salt on the wounds of the people rather than helping them.

Surejwala, who was in Uttarakhand on Wednesday to campaign for the Congress, said, “Sadly, Prime Minister Modi mocked the tragedy of Uttarakhand which is a reflection of the BJP’s arrogance. Modi has challenged India’s belief in spirituality.” He pointed out that Uttarakhand is the state of

Char-Dham

, where lakhs of pilgrims come each year.

Pointing out that Uttarakhand is the state of Char-Dham, where lakhs of pilgrims come each year, Surjewala further said that the PM has never shown concern to improve the facilities at Char Dham or help the Congress government in rehabilitation and development work post the 2013 tragedy. “But he is the first one to make mockery of people of the Himalayan state,” the Congres spokesperson said, adding that if PM did not apologise to the people of the state, they would teach him a lesson in the assembly polls.

Continuing further on the issue, he said that the statement of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi meant that if all facts related to links of the PM with some business houses came to the fore, they could create a political earthquake. “But, the PM showing his insensitive approach made a mockery of victims of natural calamity,” he added.

Citing the example of Namami Gange, Ardh Kumbh and other projects, he accused the NDA government of either not giving or slashing the funds to Uttarakhand. Supporting his point, he said, “In 2010, when Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank was the CM, the UPA government gave a fund of Rs 565 crore for Maha-kumbh. This shows the difference between Congress and the BJP.”

Meanwhile, the CM said, “He (Modi) has made fun of earthquake and people of Uttarakhand. Political questions can be given answers in a political manner and there is no point in making mockery of a sensitive issue.”

However, BJP maintained that it was not an issue but the Congress was “trying to stoke controversy to get political mileage out of the matter.” BJP national secretary Tirath Singh Rawat said, “The PM has always stood by the people in case of any emergency. His statement had no connection with Uttarakhand, but fearing a landslide defeat, Rawat and other Congress leaders were giving it a wrong direction.”Check out the Valentine Day 2025 , along with the Valentine’s Day Wishes and Messages.