New Delhi, August 27
A political bushfire broke out in the Narendra Modi government prompting the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to swiftly douse it. Both the PMO and the BJP today dismissed reports of the PM pulling-up Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s son Pankaj for “misconduct”.

Rajnath said there was no basis for rumours. The Home Minister said he would quit politics and public life if any allegation against him or his family is proved.

“In the past 15-20 days, there have been continuous rumours about me and my family. I thought rumours have no basis and these will end in some days. But these rumours are gaining momentum. I want to assure the nation that the day allegations, even prima facie or even small, are proved against me or my family, I will quit politics and public life,” Rajnath told mediapersons outside his office in North Block. The Home Minister said he had spoken to Modi and BJP president Amit Shah and both have termed the rumours baseless.

The PMO issued a statement strongly denying reports appearing in a section of media over the past several weeks mentioning the PM and referring to the conduct of some Union Ministers and the alleged misconduct of the Home Minister's son.

“The reports are plain lies, motivated and constitute a malicious attempt at character assassination and tarnishing the image of the government. Those indulging in such rumour-mongering are damaging the interest of the nation. These reports are strongly denied,” the PMO’s statement said.

The BJP president also issued a statement backing the Home Minister and terming the rumours as baseless. “As the party president, I believe the conduct of all our ministers is of highest standard and such propaganda is baseless,” Shah said.

Praising Rajnath Singh for his contribution to the party, the BJP chief also described Pankaj Singh, a state general secretary of the party, as a dedicated party worker. 

The Congress, on the other hand, sought to fish in troubled waters wanting to know who made the allegations when the party in opposition did not make such a charge. “We would like to know very politely from Rajnath Singhji that when the Congress as the main opposition party did not make any such allegation, who levelled these allegations against his son?” Congress general secretary Ajay 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. "Without any fire, there cannot be smoke. There is internal strife. The politics is changing," he said. 

The PMO on Wednesday said reports in recent weeks linking the Prime Minister's apparent displeasure over "the conduct of some Union ministers and alleged misconduct of Home Minister Rajnath Singh's son Pankaj Singh were "plain lies". "The reports are a motivated and malicious attempt to tarnish the image of the government. Those indulging in such rumour-mongering are damaging the interest of the nation. These reports are strongly denied," a statement released by the PMO said. 

As the party president, I believe the conduct of all our ministers is of highest standard, and such propaganda is baseless. Pankaj Singh is a dedicated party worker —  Amit Shah, BJP chief 

We would like to know from Rajnath Singhji when the Congress as the main Opposition party did not make any such allegation, who levelled these allegations against his son? —  Ajay Maken, Congress General Secretary

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 — Rajnath Singh, Home Minister