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With the war among the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s top brass over the possible elevation of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi within the party out in the open, the Congress today took a dig at the main Opposition party.
“It seems season is really changing in BJP! When season changes it is normal that few people fall sick, says BJP's spokesperson Mr Javadekar,” Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed posted on Twitter today. His comments follow senior BJP leader L K Advani’s decision to stay out of the party’s national executive at Goa, citing “ill health” and “doctor’s advice”. Advani’s absence has strengthened the speculation that he’s displeased with Modi’s rise and triggered protests outside his residence here by supporters of Modi.
Reacting to the protests outside Advani’s residence, Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury told reporters: “Today, what’s happening outside Advani's residence should frighten all of us. If a man who is virtually the architect of that political party is now faced with that kind of rowdyism, then the nation stands warned that what is going to come to them, that terrify us.”
Earlier in the day, former Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said: “I do not want to make any comment as it is an internal matter of that party (BJP). But at the same time, people of the country are seriously thinking whether those leaders who are unable to manage their own party affairs and are fighting for unseen power are competent to run a country like India,” said On Saturday, while commenting on the line of leaders (Ravi Shankar Prasad, Jaswant Singh, Varun Gandhi and Advani) staying away from the Goa meet due to “ill health”, Congress spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury had said “NaMonitis” was spreading and afflicting senior BJP leaders.
BJP today dismissed these attacks by the Congress as "Congress' Modi phobia". However, it was not able to stem the wave of criticism stemming from the Congress stable.
The Congress chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit’s political secretary Pawan Khera tweeted: “Instead of saying 'Advani is a restless leader but is aging' Javdekar misquoted himself to say 'Advani is an ageless leader who needs rest'.”
Senior leader Digvijay Singh also tweeted: “Full marks to Renuka. BJP suffering from NAMONITIS !! Any one from the SANGH who can treat this disease?”
