'What was the need to disrespect?': Priyanka Gandhi slams PM Modi over JP Nadda's reply to Kharge

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for getting BJP chief JP Nadda to reply to Mallikarjun Kharge's letter -- which highlighted slanderous remarks against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
In the letter, Kharge had asked PM Modi to "impose discipline and decorum" on the BJP and NDA leaders, citing "highly objectionable, violent and rude statements" against the Congress scion.
Priyanka, who also happens to be Rahul Gandhi's sister, said: "If the Prime Minister had faith in democratic values, equal dialogue and respect for elders, he would have personally responded to this letter. Instead, he got an inferior and aggressive response written by Nadda ji and sent it."
Stepping up her attack on PM Modi she further said it was unfortunate that leaders in the highest position in the government have shrugged off great traditions keeping dignity and etiquette.
"What was the need to disrespect an 82 year old senior leader? The tradition and culture of democracy is to ask questions and communicate. Even in religion, no one is above values like dignity and etiquette. There is a lot of poison in today's politics, the Prime Minister should have set a different example by keeping the dignity of his post," the Congress leader wrote on X.
She further wrote: "If he had respectfully replied to the letter of a senior colleague politician, his image and dignity would have increased in the eyes of the public. It is unfortunate that our leaders in the highest positions in the government have rejected these great traditions."
BJP chief JP Nadda on Thursday hit back at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it an effort to "polish and re-launch" their "failed product."
Nadda also accused the grand old party of hurling abuses at PM Modi over 110 times in the past decade after Kharge asked the PM to school his party leaders regarding the use of "violent languages" against Rahul Gandhi.
The entire row erupted after Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu called him the "number one terrorist" and enemy of India. He was targeting the Congress leader over his remarks on the Sikh community while on a visit to the United States.
"I think he doesn't love his country much because he goes abroad and says negative things about India. I think he is not a Hindustani," the minister said.
He alleged that Gandhi has got support from the separatists, who always talk about dividing the country.
The separatists and the most-wanted persons are also appreciating Gandhi for his remarks against Sikhs, he said.
"When such people, who are also experts in manufacturing bombs, are supporting Rahul Gandhi, then he is the number one terrorist of the country. He is talking like a separatist. There should be a reward for catching him as he is the biggest enemy of the country," he added.