Arun Jaitley Hits Back at Congress Over Jibe at PM Modi's Father, Asks 'Who Was Sardar Patel's Father?'
Jaitley's anti-Congress also included barbs against some of the regional parties -- whom he accused of adopting a similar 'dynastic' module of leadership.
New Delhi, November 27: Union Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday launched a blistering attack on the Congress, whose senior leader recently attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his modest family background. Jaitley said the dragging of Modi's father into the electoral row reflects the "dynastic mindset" of the rival party.
Referring to the remarks of Congress leader Vilasrao Muttemwar -- who triggered a row by asking a gathering in Rajasthan whether they know the name of Modi's father -- Jaitley said none of his acquaintances know who were the parents of freedom fighters Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel or Mahatma Gandhi.
"Millions of talented political workers who come from modest family backgrounds would fail by the Congress test of leadership. Merit, talent, ability to inspire and lead would not be a virtue. The Congress considers only a great surname as a political brand," Jaitley said in his Facebook blog.
The Finance Minister further blamed the Congress of "glorifying only one family" over the last seven decades, while neglecting the role of other leaders involved in the independence struggle.
"The contribution of other great stalwarts like Patel and Subhash Chandra Bose is downplayed. Members of one family are projected as larger than life. Their aberrations become national aberrations. The party adopts them as its ideology," he added.
Jaitley's anti-Congress also included barbs against some of the regional parties -- whom he accused of adopting a similar "dynastic" module of leadership.
"Following the dynastic pattern of leadership within the Congress, several other parties have followed the same principle. In such organisations there is no inner party democracy, there are no ideological principles. There is a complete flexibility to switch sides and align with your erstwhile political opponents," he further said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 27, 2018 04:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).