BJP took out yatras carrying ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to immerse those in rivers all across the country. Vajpayee's niece and Congress leader Karuna Shukla slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for taking out 'Asthi Kalash Yatra' across the country claiming it to be a political agenda and a strategy for setting up votes for the upcoming 2019 elections.
"It is okay if the BJP wants to mourn its leader and remember him the way they want. But look at how they have painted every corner of the city... We can see the lure of votes," said Shukla.
According to a report in the Outlook, while many feel that the "tamasha" would not have earned the approval of the late leader himself, a small section in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) feels that the event was commensurate with the stature of Vajpayee, who died on August 16.
Many residents are angry with the election-oriented events that BJP is taking upon in the name of Vajpayee. The people's leader had never discriminated on the basis of caste or religion. But after his death, the BJP leaders are putting out thousands of hoardings and banners with his picture and saffron background clearly hinting at their party agenda.
During the 2002 Gujarat riots, when asked by a journalist what message would Vajpayee give to the then CM Narendra Modi, Vajpayee said, "Main chahta hu Modi rajdharma pe chale. (Modi should 'follow his Rajdharma.'). He also added that a king never discriminates against his followers on the basis of caste or religion.
