Shocking that Cong doesn't have courtesy to greet Modi: Naidu

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said it was shocking to see Congress president Sonia Gandhi and party vice president Rahul Gandhi not having the courtesy of greeting Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi following the massive mandate received by him.

"Though American president, British prime minister, scores of prime ministers from across the globe, including our neighbours such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have greeted Modi, the Congress president and vice president do not have the courtesy or the basic culture of India to greet the person who has got such a massive mandate," Naidu told mediapersons.

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People of the country have punished Congress for its alleged failure to keep up promises, and the corruption, misrule and policy paralysis, he claimed.  Asked whether the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh would be a power centre with the BJP all set to form the government, Naidu said the BJP takes its own decisions on political issues and the Sangh does not interfere in it.

"We are Swayamsevaks and we go to Sangh's office, meet people and talk to Sangh leadership. I worked as party's national president when in power. I never had any such experience. The RSS did not put any pressure on any issue. This debate is going on in media.

"There will be no power centre. The (BJP) leadership takes decision after holding consultations with all. You have seen the mandate for Modi. He is party's leader and he will be prime minister and the National Democratic Alliance’s leader. We will move ahead under his leadership," he said.

Replying to a query about government formation, he said the BJP's parliamentary party would meet on Tuesday to elect the leader. "The President would be informed about it. It is not good to talk about the matter at this juncture. I do not want to give any comment now," he said.