Modi-Pawar bonhomie: Digvijay calls it another 'U-turn' by PM

New Delhi, Feb 16: Congress leader Digvijay Singh on Monday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the recent bonhomie with NCP chief Sharad Pawar, alleging that it was "another U turn" by Modi who had not long back dubbed NCP as "naturally corrupt party".

"NCP 'Naturally Corrupt Party' becomes Not So Corrupt Party for Modi ! Another U Turn ! Narendrabhai continue making such U Turns," Singh said on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Modi had shared the stage with Pawar in Maharashtra's Baramati on Saturday, leading to speculation on the prospect of BJP and NCP cosying up after a bitter election campaign last year, where both sides minced no words while attacking each other.

While PM Modi had attacked Pawar during Maharashtra elections last year and called the NCP "Naturally Corrupt Party," this visit sparked off a new bonhomie where the PM sang a different tune.

Calling Pawar an experienced leader, Modi had said, "I speak to Sharad Pawar more than two times a month. Sharad Pawar has always thought of farmers' plight."

Modi added, "It's a good day for the media. They will pull out old tapes of what Modi has said earlier and what Pawar has said earlier. We have different beliefs but the national interest is priority."

BJP has been facing difficulties with ally Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and a stronger NCP will mean that its larger opponent, the Congress, is weakened.

Another Congress leader Manish Tewari also took a swipe at the Prime Minister over his remarks on power issue. "Mr Prime Minister would you walk the talk& tell the Akali-BJP govt in Punjab to pull the plug on Free power to farmers in Punjab?Or Rhetoric," he tweeted.

The reference was in light of Prime Minister yesterday frowning upon parties promising free power to people. The Akali Dal-BJP government provides free power to farmers in Punjab.

PTI