NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Friday condemned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi‘s remark comparing Prime Minister Narendra Modi to outgoing US President Joe Biden and called it “unfortunate”.
Rahul Gandhi speaking at a rally during Maharashtra elections, had said that PM Modi was “losing his memory” just like Biden.
“My sister was telling me that she heard Modi ji’s speech. And in that speech, whatever we say, Modi ji is saying the same thing these days. I don’t know, maybe he has lost his memory,” he had said.
“The former President of America, used to forget, he had to be reminded from behind. The President of Ukraine came and the President of America said that Russian President Putin has come. He had lost his memory, similarly, our prime minister is losing his memory,” the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha had said.
The MEA said that the Congress leader’s remarks were “not in keeping with warm and friendly ties with the United States” and did not reflect the position of the Indian government.
“We see such reports or remarks as unfortunate. And they are not in keeping with warm and friendly ties with the United States. And do not represent the position of the government of India,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing.
The Congress was swept away in the Maharashtra assembly elections, as the BJP secured the highest vote share of 26.77%, winning 132 of the 149 seats it contested, according to Election Commission data. This victory marked a third consecutive instance of the BJP surpassing the 100-seat threshold in assembly elections. BJP’s Mahayuti allies, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, secured 57 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP won 41 seats.