PM Modi's attack comes even as the Opposition parties have been demanding that he make a statement on Manipur in Parliament.
An image from the BJP Parliamentary meeting. (Twitter)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 25 July, drew comparisons between the banned terror outfit Indian Mujahideen (IM) and the joint Opposition front, Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA).
Modi derided the Opposition alliance INDIA as the “most directionless the country had ever seen”, and cited reviled names such as East India Company and Indian Mujahideen to assert that people “cannot be misled merely by the use of the country’s name”.
Senior Congress leader and now disqualified MP Rahul Gandhi retorted to PM Modi’s statement by citing violence-hit Manipur and reiterated that ‘INDIA’ would rebuild Manipur.
Multiple sources present at the BJP parliamentary party meeting said Modi was severe in his criticism of the Opposition amid the continuing logjam in Parliament.
They added that he also sounded confident of the ruling dispensation retaining power at the Centre for a third term after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Modi’s attack on the Opposition front — the INDIA — at the BJP parliamentary meeting comes at a time Opposition parties have been demanding his statement in the House on Manipur.
“The Opposition has sunk deep in despair and is directionless,” he said, according to Union minister Pralhad Joshi.
Its conduct suggested that it had reconciled to remain in the Opposition for a long time, Modi said.
Joshi told reporters that Modi likened the current atmosphere in and about India to a “new dawn”, noting the mood of optimism and hope about the country globally.
The Indian economy had grown to be the fifth-largest under his government from the 10th, and would be the third-biggest in its third term, the prime minister said, asking his party leaders to work with resolve and determination to help develop the country.
With the Opposition parties rallying around the name “INDIA” for their alliance, the prime minister panned the grouping as a collection of corrupt leaders and parties.
Organisations that wanted to rule and break the country, that wanted to divide it, used names like ‘India’ and ‘Indian’ to mislead people, he added.
Even the Indian National Congress, the main Opposition party, was named so by an Englishman — AO Hume, he said, according to sources.
Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his remarks on the opposition alliance, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said “Call us what you want”, but “we are INDIA” and “will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur”.
Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi.
We are INDIA.
We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people.
We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 25, 2023
Leaders of Opposition parties took exception to Modi comparing the joint Opposition front — that included democratically elected representatives — to banned terror and extremist outfits.
Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge raised the matter in Parliament questioning PM Modi’s silence on Manipur but talking about the “East India Company”.
मणिपुर की बात हम कर रहें हैं, प्रधानमंत्री जी सदन के बाहर “INDIA” को “East India Company” बोल रहें हैं !
कांग्रेस पार्टी हमेशा ‘मदर इंडिया’ यानि ‘भारत माता’ के साथ रही है।
अंग्रेज़ों के ग़ुलाम तो भाजपा के राजनैतिक वंशज ही थे।
अपनी ऊल-जलूल बयानबाज़ी से प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी… pic.twitter.com/G6IdqXTyfa
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) July 25, 2023
The Opposition has been demanding that Modi make a statement on the Manipur issue in Parliament before a debate on the matter can be taken up.
The BJP has insisted that it was willing for a discussion and Union Home Minister Amit Shah would reply to it, asking the Opposition to not set any precondition.
(With PTI inputs)
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