Bhagwat takes sly dig at Modi over Manipur, poll campaign

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday appeared to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Without naming anyone Bhagwat said that one should not lie during election campaigns, adding that the curbing of violence in Manipur had not been made into a priority.

The comments came in the backdrop of news that RSS, the parent body of the ruling BJP, wasn’t happy with Modi.

“Elections and campaigns that take place prior to it are a necessary activity in a democracy. When there are two parties competing against each other, it is natural that they try to outdo one another. It must happen but even in that dignity needs to be maintained. Do not use falsehoods. Why are people getting elected if not to go to Parliament and run the country? And they will do so by creating a consensus,” Bhagwat said.

“Manipur has been waiting for peace. There had been peace there for 10 years. The sudden outbreak of false information or the deliberate spreading of the same has still engulfed it (Manipur) in flames,'' he said.