The Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday rubbished media reports about “alleged misconduct” of Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s son Pankaj Singh, dubbing these as “plain lies, motivated and malicious attempt” to tarnish the image of the government.

“This has reference to reports appearing in a section of the media over the past several weeks, mentioning the Prime Minister, and referring to the conduct of some Union Ministers, and alleged misconduct of the Home Minister’s son,” the PMO said in a statement.

“The reports are plain lies, motivated and constitute a malicious attempt at character assassination and tarnishing the image of the Government,” it said.

The statement came in the wake of a media report that Rajnath Singh was unhappy over rumours being spread by “a ministerial colleague” and “party rival” about his son being pulled up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over some alleged misconduct.

“Those indulging in such rumour-mongering are damaging the interest of the nation. These reports are strongly denied,” the PMO said.

I will quit politics if misconduct by my family proved: Rajnath

Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh scotched “rumours” of misconduct on his or his family’s part as he said he would quit politics and sit at home if such charges are even prima facie proved.

He said rumours about alleged wrong doings by his family members have been floating around for the last fortnight.

“In the last 15-20 days, there have been continuous rumours in the air about me and my family. I thought rumours have no basis and these will end in some days.” “But I am seeing that these rumours are gaining momentum day-by-day. I want to assure the nation that the day allegations, even prima facie or even small, are proven against me or my family, I will quit politics and public life and sit at home,” he said in a hurriedly called interaction with journalists outside his office in North Block.

The Home Minister said he has conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP President Amit Shah and both of them have expressed surprise over the issue and termed the rumours as completely baseless.

“I have told this to the Prime Minister and party President Amit Shah when we were sitting together. They have expressed surprise over this and termed it as completely baseless,” Singh said.

The Home Minister’s reaction came in the wake of media reports that he was unhappy over rumours being spread by “a ministerial colleague” and “party rival” about his son Pankaj Singh being pulled up by the Prime Minister over some alleged misconduct. Asked who could be behind the floating of the rumours, he said that was something for the investigative journalists to find out. On the possibility of a political rival spreading these rumours, the Home Minister parried a direct reply, saying, “I have nothing to say on this.”

 

The Home Minister denied that he has complained to the RSS about these rumours.

“I have not talked to the Sangh on this,” he said.

Oppn targets govt over reports about Rajnath’s son

The opposition targeted the government over media reports that claimed Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s son had been ticked off by the Prime Minister for alleged misconduct, with Congress questioning what the allegations are about.

Congress General Secretary and Media Department Chairperson Ajay Maken said that the Prime Minister’s Office had tweeted to say that rumours against Rajnath Singh’s son are plain lies.

“The strange thing is that when as opposition party Congress has not leveled any allegations against his (Rajnath’s) son, so the country and the Congress party want to know Rajnath Singh ji,….Prime Minister you should first of all tell what are the allegations against the son, that you are denying,” Maken told reporters in New Delhi.

Referring to the Home Minister’s statement that he would quit politics if any misconduct on his or his family’s part is proved, he said the Congress party wants to know what the allegations are.

“With a lot of humility, the Congress party also wants to know from Rajnath Singh, that when it, the principal opposition party had not leveled any such allegations, then who has made these allegations,” Maken said.

CPI leader D Raja said the clarification by the PMO and the Home Minister was “too late and too little” as reports have been appearing in national dailies for days together.

“Without any fire, there cannot be any smoke. It shows there are lot of things….there is internal strife….the politics is changing,” he said.

Raja said it is RSS which dictates what BJP should or should not do. JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav, however, came out in support of Rajnath Singh and said the Home Minister is spotless.

Similar views were expressed by NCP leader D P Tripathi.

“It is good that the PMO has clarified. I have known Rajnath Singh for so many years. He is not the kind of person who would even think of such a thing. Forget about doing it. Even his family members would never think of such a thing,” said Tripathi.