'Diverting from real issues, annoyed as INDIA bloc growing': Cong on BJP's 'Modi Ka Parivar'

New Delhi: The Congress on Monday took a swipe at the BJP over its campaign of leaders suffixing their names on social media profiles with "Modi Ka Parivar", saying they were "misleading" the people from real issues and indulging in such tactics as the INDIA bloc was "growing".

The BJP on Monday rallied around Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its leaders suffixed their names on social media profiles with "Modi Ka Parivar", a day after RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav took a jibe at him for having no family.

Asked about the BJP's campaign, Congress general secretary organisation K C Venugopal said, "You could see the enthusiasm among the public in Patna yesterday. Everyday INDIA bloc is growing, that is why the BJP people are annoyed."

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh took a dig at the BJP, saying "now they cannot talk about parivarvad (nepotism)".

Congress' media department head Pawan Khera said, "Waiting for Upendra Rawat, Pawan Singh & Brijbhushan Sharan Singh to add Modi Ka Pariwar to their bio."

Waiting for #UpendraRawat, #PawanSingh & #BrijbhushanSharanSingh to add Modi Ka Pariwar to their bio.

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) March 4, 2024

Later, Khera shared a screenshot the social media bio of Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh who had suffixed 'Modi Ka Parivar'. "Modi Ka Pariwar welcomes Brijbhushan Sharan Singh," Khera said in a post on X.

Modi ka Pariwar welcomes Brijbhushan Sharan Singh https://t.co/rxfSwmEszb pic.twitter.com/PKo6SRwDni

— Pawan Khera 🇮🇳 (@Pawankhera) March 4, 2024

Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari said the BJP's principles keep changing.

"Earlier, they used to say that the country comes first, then the party and then the leader. Earlier, it was the Sangh Parivar, now it is the Modi Parivar. These are all misleading things, they should write in their profiles why there is no employment, why MSP guarantee is not given to the farmers, Modi should give guarantee that he will bring back black money" he said.

They are indulging in media management using money power, Patwari said.

Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari and Nirmala Sitharaman, and BJP chief JP Nadda were joined by party members from across the country in declaring themselves as "Modi Ka Parivar" (Modi's family)" on their social media accounts, as the ruling party launched a sharp counter-attack on the opposition.

Many Modi-supporting social media users also made the same change on their pages.

Sudhanshu Trivedi, a BJP national spokesperson, told reporters that opposition parties have been launching personal attacks against Modi and making such "petty" remarks against him for the past 16-17 years.

The BJP's show of solidarity around its top leader in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections is reminiscent of a similar campaign the party had mounted prior to the 2019 general elections with the "Main Bhi Chowkidar" addition to their names to take on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's "Chowkidar Chor Hai" dig at Modi.