NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday yet again mocked Rahul Gandhi calling him a “non-starter”. In his reply to Motion of Thanks on President’s address in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi, without naming Rahul Gandhi, said “the Congress party made its Yuvraj a ‘start-up’ but the sad part is that he has remained a ‘non-starter’.”
“Congress has been trying to launch and re-launch its Yuvraj but it is neither getting lifted nor launched,” PM Modi said amid cheers from the treasury benches.
On Monday, in his address in Lok Sabha, PM Modi had said: “The Congress shop is on the verge of closure in its bid to launch the same product again and again.”
As the country gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi has been unsparing in his attacks on the Congress. In his speeches, first in Lok Sabha and today in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi accused the Congress of failing the country and its expectations. He said the Congress had become “outdated” and “out-of-warranty” and was creating narratives that seek to divide the nation.
‘Prime Minister said countless lies’
Reacting to Prime Minister’s remarks, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said these people do not believe in the Constitution.
“They (BJP) believe that independence was achieved in 2014. They do no know that we got independence in 1947 and the Congress struggled for it. They do not want to recognise it. The prime minister said countless lies…. He is not in the habit of speaking the truth and does not have much contribution,” he told reporters.
“Those who did not believe in the Constitution, who did not participate in the ‘Dandi March’ and the ‘Quit India Movement’ have the audacity to today preach patriotism to the Congress party! Modiji said countless false things about the UPA government,” Kharge later said in a post on X.
“Modiji, in your speeches in both the Houses, you only cursed Congress. Despite being in power for 10 years, instead of talking about himself, he only criticises the Congress party. Even today he did not talk about price rise, unemployment and economic inequality,” Kharge said.
“Actually the government does not have any data. NDA itself means ‘No Data Available’ government — Census 2021 has not been conducted, there is no employment data, there is no health survey. The government hides all the statistics and spreads lies,” he alleged.
‘Modi rattled by Rahul’s yatra’
Congress general secretary in-charge (organisation) K C Venugopal said Modi has made a “fashion” of attacking Kharge, a towering leader who has risen from the grassroots level to the position of leader of opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress president.
“Once again today, he has crossed a line. Both his speeches in Parliament are a cruel joke on the people of India. If after 10 years in power, Narendra Modi can only think of cheap, juvenile and misleading attacks on the Congress — it shows the bankruptcy of his ideas and morals,” Venugopal said.
Clearly, Rahul Gandhi’s second cross-country yatra has rattled him, he added.
“The arrogance and hatred in the PM’s speeches show that in reality, he is scared of the Congress defeating them and the people teaching them a befitting lesson in the Lok Sabha elections,” Venugopal said.
“The speech showed how much he is scared of the Congress. He is only attacking the Congress. That indicates the significance of the Congress. The prime minister has to study about Jawaharlal Nehru to know who he is…. He is referring to Nehru’s quotes, but who gave the reservation? Did the BJP do it? What was the RSS’ view on reservation?” he asked.
“Congress has been trying to launch and re-launch its Yuvraj but it is neither getting lifted nor launched,” PM Modi said amid cheers from the treasury benches.
On Monday, in his address in Lok Sabha, PM Modi had said: “The Congress shop is on the verge of closure in its bid to launch the same product again and again.”
As the country gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, PM Modi has been unsparing in his attacks on the Congress. In his speeches, first in Lok Sabha and today in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi accused the Congress of failing the country and its expectations. He said the Congress had become “outdated” and “out-of-warranty” and was creating narratives that seek to divide the nation.
‘Prime Minister said countless lies’
Reacting to Prime Minister’s remarks, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said these people do not believe in the Constitution.
“They (BJP) believe that independence was achieved in 2014. They do no know that we got independence in 1947 and the Congress struggled for it. They do not want to recognise it. The prime minister said countless lies…. He is not in the habit of speaking the truth and does not have much contribution,” he told reporters.
“Those who did not believe in the Constitution, who did not participate in the ‘Dandi March’ and the ‘Quit India Movement’ have the audacity to today preach patriotism to the Congress party! Modiji said countless false things about the UPA government,” Kharge later said in a post on X.
“Modiji, in your speeches in both the Houses, you only cursed Congress. Despite being in power for 10 years, instead of talking about himself, he only criticises the Congress party. Even today he did not talk about price rise, unemployment and economic inequality,” Kharge said.
“Actually the government does not have any data. NDA itself means ‘No Data Available’ government — Census 2021 has not been conducted, there is no employment data, there is no health survey. The government hides all the statistics and spreads lies,” he alleged.
‘Modi rattled by Rahul’s yatra’
Congress general secretary in-charge (organisation) K C Venugopal said Modi has made a “fashion” of attacking Kharge, a towering leader who has risen from the grassroots level to the position of leader of opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha and Congress president.
“Once again today, he has crossed a line. Both his speeches in Parliament are a cruel joke on the people of India. If after 10 years in power, Narendra Modi can only think of cheap, juvenile and misleading attacks on the Congress — it shows the bankruptcy of his ideas and morals,” Venugopal said.
Clearly, Rahul Gandhi’s second cross-country yatra has rattled him, he added.
“The arrogance and hatred in the PM’s speeches show that in reality, he is scared of the Congress defeating them and the people teaching them a befitting lesson in the Lok Sabha elections,” Venugopal said.
“The speech showed how much he is scared of the Congress. He is only attacking the Congress. That indicates the significance of the Congress. The prime minister has to study about Jawaharlal Nehru to know who he is…. He is referring to Nehru’s quotes, but who gave the reservation? Did the BJP do it? What was the RSS’ view on reservation?” he asked.
