NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi accusing the Congress leader of speaking the language of urban Naxals. The Prime Minister also took pot shots at Rahul over his allegations of “EAM lobbying for Trump inauguration invite” and his “boring” remark for President Droupadi Murmu’s Budget speech.
‘Some people speaking language of urban Naxals openly’
“Today some people are openly speaking the language of urban naxals. The things that urban naxals say (are being said). These people who speak the language of urban naxals, who declare war against the Indian State, can neither understand the Constitution nor about the country’s unity,” Modi said.
“Those who walk around with pockets in Constitution, do they know how they forced Muslim women to live in hardship. We brought in the triple talaq law to give right to them,” he said and added: “We live by spirit of Constitution and do not resort to politics of poison.”
Though the Prime Minister did not name anyone, his remarks were an apparent reference to Rahul’s comments last month that “we are now fighting the BJP, the RSS and the Indian State itself”.
‘For some people, speaking about caste is fashion’
The Prime Minister also countered Rahul Gandhi’s attacks on the government over neglect of the OBCs. “For some people, speaking about caste is fashion. For the last 30 years, OBC MPs have been demanding that OBC Commission be granted Constitutional status. Those who see a benefit in casteism today did not think of the OBC community back then. We granted Constitutional status to the OBC Commission. SC, ST and OBC get more opportunities in every sector – we have worked very strongly towards this,” the PM said training his guns at Rahul who has relentlessly accused the government of neglecting the OBCs.
The Prime Minister then went on to take an indirect swipe at the Gandhi family, which has three MPs – Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka.
“I pose an important question to the citizens through this House – have there ever been three MPs simultaneously from the same family of SC community? I also ask, tell me if there ever were three MPs simultaneously from the same family belonging to the ST community … ” the PM said. He then went on to assert that there was a vast difference between the opposition’s words and actions.
‘Some think talking about foreign policy is maturity’
Targeting Rahul Gandhi’s allegations of external affairs minister lobbying for Trump inauguration invite, the Prime Minister took a dig at the Congress leader. ‘Some think talking about foreign policy is maturity. They feel they are not mature enough if they don’t talk about foreign policy, even at the cost of the nation,” the Prime Minister said.
“If they are really interested in foreign policy, they should read the book ‘JFK’s Forgotten Crises’ that talks of Pandit Nehru’s meetings with John F Kennedy to learn about foreign policy,” he said and added: “The book speaks of happenings in name of foreign policy when country was facing many challenges.”
‘Those who do photo sessions in huts … ‘
PM Modi attacked Rahul over his remarks calling President Murmu’s speech as ‘boring.’ “Those who entertain themselves by getting photo sessions done in huts of the poor will find the talk about the poor in Parliament boring,” the Prime Minister said without naming Rahul.
Soon after the President delivered her address to a joint sitting of Parliament on January 31, Sonia Gandhi, leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were seen discussing the speech in the Parliament complex. During the discussion, Rahul Gandhi was heard asking Sonia Gandhi if the President’s speech was “boring”.
The Prime Minister also targeted Rahul’s father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi mocking his “Mr Clean” image and also his resolve to lead India into 21st century.