OPPOSITION leaders took swipes at prime minister Narendra Modi for not taking any questions at a press conference and diverting them to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Friday (17).
Former Uttar Pradesh (UP) chief minister and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav tweeted a picture of three wise monkeys covering their eyes, ears and mouth with their hands.
“Development is asking: Did you see the prime minister's first press conference. It looks like the last episode of 'Mann ki Baat' has been telecast on Television instead of the Radio
“Poor media-persons kept sitting with their questions as the 'disciplined soldier' maintained silence,” he said on Twitter.
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also took to Twitter to say, “Amit Shah doesn't forget to thank the embedded BJP workers disguised as journalists.”
He tagged along with a news report quoting Amit Shah as saying that “even journalists joined the 'Main Bhi Chowkidaar' campaign”.
Questioning the prime minister for his "silence" at the press conference, Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja said, “What was in the press conference? The prime minister should have answered the pointed question posed to him on the Rafale issue.”
“The allegations were squarely on the prime minister and he should have responded to the question. It seems they are hiding something,” he said.
Addressing his first press conference along with BJP chief Amit Shah after coming to power in 2014, prime minister Narendra Modi asserted on the last day of campaigning last week that the BJP will come back to power with a full majority, but refused to take any questions, citing party discipline.
The Congress mocked prime minister Narendra Modi for not taking any question in his first appearance at a press conference, with party president Rahul Gandhi on Friday (17) saying "showing up is half the battle".
"Congratulations Modi Ji. Excellent Press Conference! Showing up is half the battle. Next time Mr Shah may even allow you to answer a couple of questions. Well done," Gandhi had tweeted.
Gandhi said it is "very impressive" to see the PM address his first press conference a few days before the Lok Sabha election results are out.
"The PM's first press conference is coming four-five days before the election results. The PM is accompanying Amit Shah in the press briefing. It is unprecedented. Very good.
"I am told the doors have also been shut, as journalists who want to ask questions have been blocked. It is a great press conference," he told reporters at his press conference that coincided with that of Shah, where PM Modi was also present.
Former home minister and senior leader P Chidambaram said, "PM 'addresses' press conference. Who is the wit who said 'silence can be eloquent'? PM's press conference was proof of that statement."
"I think PM was present at the press conference to send the message that, if the election results go wrong, the person to take the blame will be Mr Amit Shah," he said.
Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeeted, "Modi ji's first and last press conference became Amit Shah's crutches...one hour speech, tired journalists and sermons to them, no question, no answer."
(PTI)
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows British Steel's Scunthorpe plant, in Scunthorpe, northern England, Britain, March 31, 2025. REUTERS/Dominic Lipinski
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. (Representational image: iStock)
FBU chief raises concern over rise in racist online posts by union members
THE FIRE Brigades Union (FBU) and other trade unions are increasingly concerned about a rise in racist and bigoted online comments by their own members and officials, according to Steve Wright, the FBU’s new general secretary, speaking to the Guardian.
Wright said internal inquiries have revealed dozens of cases involving members using racist slurs or stereotypes, often aimed at asylum seekers.
He said similar issues were reported in other unions, prompting a joint campaign to counter false narratives around immigration and race promoted by far-right groups online.
“People with far-right views are becoming more brazen in what they do on social media, and I’ve witnessed it with my own union around disciplinary cases and the rhetoric of some of our own members,” Wright said to the newspaper.
He added, “Some of our members and sometimes our reps have openly made comments which are racist and bigoted. In my time in the fire service, that has gone up.”
The FBU is planning to introduce new internal policies and wants the TUC to take action as well. A formal statement addressing far-right narratives will be launched at the union’s annual conference in Blackpool next month.
Wright cited the influence of social media and figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage as factors contributing to these incidents. “It feels like an itch that we’ve got to scratch,” he said.
The FBU barred a former official last year for allegedly endorsing racist content on X, including posts from Britain First and Tommy Robinson.
Wright also warned that the union could strike if the government moves to cut frontline fire services.