Shiv Sena: PM Modi once provided masala to media

Mumbai: Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his advice to party leaders to refrain from providing masala (fodder) to the media, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday alleged that the PM had done the same earlier before the BJP came to power. The Sena even said that party leaders had taken inspiration from the PM in making callous statements about any issue.

In its editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamana, the Sena said, “Mr Modi has told his party leaders to mind their tongue. But the BJP leaders’ statements about rape cases were shocking. Minister Santosh Gangwar even said that one or two rape cases happened in a big country and questioned why they needed to be over-publicised. No one asked him to resign for insulting women. Mr Modi only told them to mind their language.”

The Sena comment comes a day after Mr Modi cautioned BJP MPs and MLAs against making pointless remarks, which he likened to giving masala to the media. The PM told them to be responsible while making statements and criticising the media. He told them to check the mistakes committed by them.

The Sena however reminded Mr Modi that he had done the same in terms of providing ammo (ammunition) to the media back in 2014 to get the party into power, and that party leaders were doing the same. “Mr Modi provided masala, pickle, papad to the media in 2014. The BJP ministers and leaders are saying anything. They might have been inspired by Mr Modi. It is amusing to see the BJP now talking about not providing fodder to the media,” the Sena editorial said.

Citing the example of former BJP PM, A.B. Vajpayee, the Sena said that he always spoke within his limits. “It is an unwritten norm that the PM should speak little. But Mr Modi’s opponents say that he talks too much. Now, the media has started liking Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his statements,” the Sena said.