Rahul Gandhi Criticizes PM Modi and Centre in Parliament Speech
In a recent address to the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, a prominent leader of the Congress party, launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government. Gandhi’s speech focused on the situation in Manipur and Haryana, accusing the government of disregarding the concerns of the people and displaying arrogance.
Gandhi’s speech marked his return to the Parliament after being reinstated as a Member of Parliament. He used this opportunity to voice his strong opinions about the government’s handling of issues, particularly in Manipur. He compared the government’s actions to the arrogance of the mythological figure Ravana, whose pride led to the destruction of Lanka. Gandhi accused the government of “burning the country” with their actions, much like Ravana’s arrogance caused Lanka’s downfall.
One of Gandhi’s key criticisms was that Prime Minister Modi had not paid sufficient attention to the troubles faced by the people of Manipur. He asserted that for the Prime Minister, Manipur did not seem to be an integral part of India, alleging that the government’s actions had harmed the people of Manipur and the unity of the nation. Gandhi further claimed that the government’s actions had divided Manipur, and he questioned the lack of a visit by the Prime Minister to the troubled region.
Bringing attention to the violence in Manipur and recent clashes in Haryana, Gandhi accused the BJP-led government of being responsible for these issues. He claimed that the government’s policies had led to a situation where the entire country was in turmoil, likening the BJP to someone spreading kerosene across the nation, igniting conflicts.
Gandhi drew a parallel between his own experiences during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the situation in Manipur. He questioned whether Prime Minister Modi was truly listening to the voice of the nation, suggesting that the Prime Minister seemed to only heed the opinions of a few, much like the mythological character Ravana who only listened to two individuals. Gandhi mentioned that Modi appeared to only listen to Amit Shah and Adani, drawing attention to what he believed was a narrow perspective.
He emotionally conveyed that he considered both his biological mother, Sonia Gandhi, and India, his motherland. He accused the government of causing harm to both Manipur and India, claiming that they had neglected the people’s well-being and the unity of the nation. Gandhi further criticized the government’s handling of the security situation in Manipur, suggesting that the Indian Army could bring peace to the region swiftly but was not being utilized appropriately.
In response to Gandhi’s speech, Union Minister Smriti Irani criticized the Congress party for discussing the concept of “Mother India” in the Lok Sabha. She argued that the Opposition’s character was exposed when they applauded Gandhi’s statement about the death of Mother India. The Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, repeatedly cautioned Gandhi against using such strong expressions, reminding him to maintain decorum in the House.
It was reported that Gandhi’s speech would undergo review by the Lok Sabha authorities, and certain portions might be removed. Despite this, Gandhi thanked Speaker Om Birla for reinstating his membership in the Lok Sabha, marking this speech as his first major address after the Supreme Court’s stay on his conviction in the Modi surname case in 2019.