PM Modi should visit Kashmir, not celebrate Dusshera in Lucknow: Raj Babbar

Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Raj Babbar said on 11 October that the PM should have visited Kashmir instead of joining in in the Dussehra festivities in Lucknow.

"Today, Kashmir is burning, and we would have liked if he (Prime Minister Modi) would have visited Kashmir again to celebrate Dussehra as he went their earlier to celebrate Diwali," Raj Babbar told ANI.

He said that if the prime minister would have visited the Kashmir valley, it would have been an honour for army personnel who sacrifice their lives for the nation.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav dubbed PM Modi's upcoming visit to the state capital to attend the Dussehra celebrations as politically motivated with an eye on the upcoming state assembly polls.

If reports are to be believed, the Uttar Pradesh CM will receive PM Modi at the airport but will not attend the Ramleela event.

PM Modi will attend the historic Aishbagh Ramlila in Lucknow on Dussehra on 11 October. The move assumes significance as it comes ahead of the assembly polls due next year in Uttar Pradesh where the saffron party is making a concerted bid to come back to power after a gap of 15 years and is up against ruling Samajwadi Party and main opposition Mayawati-led BSP.

The party had earlier said that Modi will be in the state every month before the campaign picks up when he is expected to address rallies and attend more events.

--With agency inputs