Author: Our Bureau
Publication: The Economic
Date: June 27, 2013
URL: http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-27/news/40233375_1_rajnath-singh-bjp-workers-party-workers

With the debate over the veracity of Narendra Modi's 'Rambo' act in Uttarakhand refusing to die down, the BJP chief Rajnath Singh came to the Gujarat CM's rescue on Wednesday, saying that neither the party nor Modi made any such claims.

He said that how such reports of Modi rescuing 15,000 Gujaratis stranded in Uttarakhand came into being is beyond his understanding.

Singh said, "Modi went to Uttarakhand to express his sympathies but it was said that he evacuated 15,000 Gujaratis from the state. I spoke to him regarding this and Modi said that he never gave any such statement."

 Singh said that no party should try to politicise the Uttarakhand disaster. "If any chief minister or political party offers help to the state it should be accepted," he said.

 Earlier, it was publicised that Modi, along with his team of officers from Gujarat, had organised the evacuation of more than 15,000 Gujaratis who were stranded in calamity-hit Uttarakhand. The Congress had questioned such claims and how Modi could possibly rescue 15,000 people in two days, dubbing his touted feat as a "Rambo" act. The BJP, on its part, had questioned the absence of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi from the disaster-hit state.

 Rajnath, who is on a two day visit to the state, said that he had instructed party workers not to make any retaliatory statement regarding Uttarakhand. He said that BJP workers are a sensitive lot but advised them not to react to any provocation from rival party leaders.

 Singh also announced a compensation of 5 lakh each to those killed in Tuesday's chopper crash in Uttarakhand. Singh said that he had appealed to all party MLAs and MPs to donate one month's salary for relief work in Uttarakhand.

 Singh who is on his maiden visit to the state after becoming the BJP president would spend two days meeting party leaders along with general secretary incharge of UP Amit Shah. He would meet the new office bearers of the state unit and finalise stratehy for 2014 Lok Sabha polls.