During the rally in which a large number of ex-servicemen were present, Modi, however, avoided any reference to Kamal Kanta Verma, mother of Vikram Batra, who is contesting Lok Sabha polls from Hamirpur as Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate. Kamal Kanta later said, that Modi should withdraw the BJP candidate against her "if he feels so indebted to martyrs."