Congress leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Ashok Gehlot and Priyanka Chaturvedi. (File Photo)
Opposition parties - Congress and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) - on Thursday came down hard on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his fitness challenge acceptance tweet to Team India captain Virat Kohli. The parties said that the PM should focus on addressing other serious issues facing the country rather than such kind of media gimmicks.
"Challenge accepted, Virat! I will be sharing my own Fitness Challenge video soon," tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday morning hours after Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli tagged him for a fitness challenge.
Responding to PM Modi's tweet, Congress president Rahul Gandhi dared the prime minister to accept the challenge of reducing the oil prices.
Rahul warned PM Modi that the Congress will launch a nationwide agitation in case the prime minister fails to reduce the fuel prices,
"Dear PM, Glad to see you accept the @imVkohli fitness challenge. Here’s one from me: Reduce Fuel prices or the Congress will do a nationwide agitation and force you to do so. I look forward to your response," Rahul tweeted.
Moments later, RJD leader and former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav dared PM Modi to accept his challenge too. Tejashwi said the PM must also accept the challenge to provide jobs to the youth and relief to farmers.
WATCH: Virat Kohli accepts fitness challenge; nominates three huge names including PM Modi
"While we have nothing against accepting fitness challenge from Virat Kohli. I urge you to accept the challenge to provide jobs to young, relief to farmers, promise of no violence against dalits & minorities. Would you accept my challenge @narendramodi Sir?" Tejashwi said in his tweet.
Soon, senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala joined the chorus to slam the PM. In a series of tweets, Surjewala said cornered PM Modi over the rising petrol and diesel prices and other issues.
Surjewala said PM Modi has failed to keep his 2014 poll promise of providing 2 crore jobs. He also raised the issue of national security and said that the government has failed to protect its borders from Pakistan and China both.
"Please accept the FitnessChallenge of-National Security Fitness by stopping Pak sponsored terrorism & Chinese incursion in Doklam,next to Arunanchal Border and elsewhere. Nation must come first. Please forego the media stunts & accept the ‘Governance’ challenge," Surjewala said.
Watch: Politics over PM Modi's fitness challenge acceptance tweet to Virat Kohli
