PM Modi appeals for unanimous election of Radhakrishnan as Vice President
New Delhi, Aug 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday appealed to all parties, including the Opposition, to ensure the unanimous election of NDA’s vice presidential candidate C P Radhakrishnan, praising his long record of public service.
Radhakrishnan, currently the Governor of Maharashtra and a veteran BJP leader from Tamil Nadu, was felicitated at a meeting of NDA MPs attended by Modi and senior alliance leaders. He is expected to file his nomination on Wednesday.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Modi urged Opposition parties to support Radhakrishnan, who, he noted, has lived a simple, controversy-free life dedicated to public welfare.
During the meeting, Modi also criticized former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru for signing the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan without parliamentary consultation, calling it detrimental to India’s interests. He said his government has put the treaty in abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack, seeking to correct past “mistakes.”
Modi further highlighted S&P Global Ratings’ recent upgrade of India’s long-term sovereign credit rating, saying it reflects the country’s strong economic fundamentals and will attract greater investment.
With the BJP-led NDA holding a comfortable majority in Parliament, Radhakrishnan’s victory is assured, though the Opposition INDIA bloc is likely to field its own candidate, setting the stage for a contest. (Agencies)
