NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a blistering critique of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of adopting the rhetoric of “urban Naxals” and questioning his recent remarks on various political and social issues. Modi’s comments came during a heated debate in Parliament, where he addressed allegations raised by Rahul Gandhi while simultaneously countering the Congress party’s stance on multiple fronts.
Without explicitly naming Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi accused certain individuals of aligning with the narrative of “urban Naxals.” Referring to Rahul’s earlier comments that “we are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian State itself,” Modi said, “Today, some people openly speak the language of urban Naxals. Those who declare war against the Indian state neither understand the Constitution nor care about the country’s unity.”
The Prime Minister further emphasized his government’s commitment to empowering marginalized groups, highlighting the passage of the triple talaq law to ensure rights for Muslim women. He remarked, “We live by the spirit of the Constitution and do not engage in the politics of poison.
”Responding to Rahul Gandhi’s accusations that the government was ignoring the interests of OBCs, Modi pointed to his administration’s work in granting Constitutional status to the OBC Commission, something that he claimed Congress had ignored for decades. “For some, speaking about caste is just a fashionable act. Over the last 30 years, OBC MPs repeatedly demanded Constitutional status for the OBC Commission. It was our government that finally fulfilled this demand,” Modi said.
He also questioned Congress’s commitment to inclusivity, asking, “Has there ever been a time when three MPs from the same family were from the SC or ST communities? Yet we see such cases in other families.” This was a pointed dig at the Gandhi family, which currently has three MPs in Parliament.
Aiming for Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the external affairs minister lobbied for an invitation to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Modi dismissed it as an uninformed attack. “Some people think talking about foreign policy makes them appear mature, even if it comes at the cost of the nation,” he said.
To emphasize his point, Modi recommended Rahul read JFK’s Forgotten Crises, a book detailing Pandit Nehru’s meetings with John F. Kennedy. “If they are interested in foreign policy, they should read this book and understand the challenges India faced during those times,” Modi quipped.
The Prime Minister criticized Rahul Gandhi’s alleged remark calling President Droupadi Murmu’s Budget speech “boring.” Modi commented, “Those who entertain themselves with photo sessions in huts of the poor find discussions about poverty in Parliament boring.
” His remark alluded to an incident on January 31, when Rahul Gandhi was heard asking Sonia Gandhi if the President’s speech was “boring.”PM Modi also took a swipe at Rahul’s father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, mocking his “Mr. Clean” image and his vision to lead India into the 21st century. Modi hinted that there was a gap between Rajiv Gandhi’s promises and actions, suggesting that the Congress legacy had not lived up to its claims.
Through his remarks, Modi sought to underline what he described as the stark difference between the Congress party’s words and his government’s actions, asserting that his administration remains committed to real development and the welfare of all citizens.