Panaji, Sep 18 (IANS) : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's tongue may have stretched because of his constant criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Saturday.

"In Delhi, 36 or 40 people died from dengue and chikungunya. While this is happening, the chief minister is on leave. Sometimes I compare, there (in Delhi) he keeps criticises Modi and here he attacks me. His tongue must have extended in length because of the amount he keeps talking. Now he has cropped it.. trimmed it," Parrikar told a meeting of Bharatiya Janata Party workers here.

The Delhi Chief Minister has undergone a surgery in a Bengaluru clinic to re-position his tongue, which doctors have claimed is a reason for his constant coughing.

Parrikar said he sympathises with the Delhi chief minister, but also added that the AAP government had no right to leave the people of Delhi, who were reeling under a chikungunya and dengue spell without anyone in charge.

"He (Kejriwal) is not there and deputy CM is in Finland on a world tour. If your mohalla clinics are so good, how can 40 people die of chikungunya. You cannot fool all the people all the time. Your lies are being exposed," he said .

Parrikar also recounted a joke circulating on social media about Aam Aadmi Party MLAs landing up in Delhi's Tihar prison.

"A Whatsapp message is doing the rounds, that the Tihar jail superintendent wrote a letter to the LG (Lt. Governor) that I have more MLAs in my custody. These people have cheated, given wrong assurances and are roaming around the world without responsibilities. Goans should be careful. Goans do not get conned by schemes," he said.