PM Modi slams to SP leaders referring as "Laal Topi," says: PMO Twitter Handle

PM Modi targets SP leaders in a factory launch.

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh election polls are heading in less than three months. Several parties have started to hold a gathering for the UP polls. The UP election fever is reaching its peak as the opposition has united to defeat BJP. Slamming that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official PMO Twitter handle to spotlight his "Laal Topi" jibe at the Samajwadi Party is leading into a new controversy with parties like the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Trinamool Congress red-flagging it in the middle of an acrimonious parliament session and the campaign for state elections ahead.

Prime Minister Modi slammed a fierce attack on Akhilesh Yadav's party at a government event in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur on Tuesday. PM referred to the "Laal Topi" or trademark red cap worn by SP leaders and accused the party of going soft on terrorists.

He said: "The whole of UP knows that 'laal topi waale' (the red caps) are only interested in red beacons (power), not people's misery. They only need the power to run scams, for encroachment, to give a free run to mafias. The red caps want to form the government to get terrorists released from jail... The red caps are red alerts for Uttar Pradesh... a danger alarm."

The Prime Minister spoke about SP leaders in an official meeting held regarding the launch of the factory in Gorakhpur. His words were reproduced on the PM's official Twitter handle @PMOIndia.

Prime Minister's speeches get posted on social media on regular basis but opposition leaders say this one stands out as more strident and unseemly than others. The lines between politics and office have been blurred with the PM using his recent government events in UP to launch direct attacks at his party's rivals.

Akhilesh Yadav delivered his retort while pointedly wearing his "Laal Topi". "The PM is ruining his language. The people of Uttar Pradesh will teach them a lesson just like the people of Bengal did. The PM is panicking," said the former Chief Minister.