BJP ignoring ‘Atal model’, says his niece

Attacking BJP president Rajnath Singh, Shukla said just by wearing Atal’s angvastra (stole), Rajnath “cannot become Atal’s blood or family”.

Former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s niece and Congress candidate from Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur parliamentary constituency Karuna Shukla on Saturday lashed out at the BJP for trying to appropriate the image of the former PM while completely ignoring his ways.

“The BJP is talking of ‘Gujarat model’ but none of them is asking about ‘Atal model’. They put huge photos of Atalji on hoardings but that’s all there is to it,” Shukla said in Lucknow.

Shukla, however, said the Congress has taken to Atal’s model through numerous measures. “Atal’s model was to open AIIMS hospitals, which have been opened by Congress; Atal’s model was Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana, which has been taken up by Congress, Atal’s model was to connect rivers, which is being done by Congress; the model was against corruption and it was Congress which brought RTI,” she said.

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Attacking BJP president Rajnath Singh, who is contesting from Lucknow, Shukla said just by wearing Atal’s angvastra (stole), Rajnath “cannot become Atal’s blood or family”.

While filing his nomination papers, Rajnath had worn an angvastra, said to be sent given by Atal.

Shukla also said “Atal and Advani era has ended and a few foxes have taken over the party and are running it with much cunning”.