Opposition cites PMO tweet on 'Laal Topi' to accuse Modi of using office for politics

Modi called out the SP referring to it as "Laap Topi" while inaugurating a number of projects at Gorakhpur at a government event.

In an attack on the SP and its chief Akhilesh Yadav, the Prime Minister said on Tuesday, "The whole of UP knows that 'laal topi wale' (the red caps) are only interested in red beacons (power), not people's misery. They only need power to run scams, for encroachment, to give a free run to mafias.

"The red caps want to form government to get terrorists released from jail... The red caps are red alerts for Uttar Pradesh... a danger alarm."

Hitting back at Modi, Yadav tweeted, "For the BJP, the red alerts are inflation, unemployment, the plight of farmers-labourers, Hathras, Lakhimpr, women and youth oppression, destruction of education, business and health and 'Laal Topi' because it will throw out BJP from power this time. Red will make revolution and change will come in 2022."

Slamming the Prime Minister in the same tune, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra tweeted, "PM’s office paid for by tax payer’s money & staffed by IAS officers. How on earth can @PMOIndia handle be used for political lal topi tweets? Have everyone’s brains been fried in saffron sauce?"

Tweeting a picture of Modi wearing a black cap, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh tweeted, "Modiji, people, who wear black caps, have both their heart and mind black."

Uttar Pradesh will go to polls early 2022 with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) facing a challenge from the SP with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Congress fighting for their relevance.