Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attempted to mock INDIA, the Opposition alliance, by pointing to the East India Company and the Indian Mujahideen but ended up facing the question: what kind of a man is reminded of an invader or a terror group by the name India, instead of feeling pride and patriotism?

Modi told BJP MPs earlier in the day that “even the East India Company and terror outfits Indian Mujahideen and People’s Front of India had India in their name".

Congress spokesperson Gourav Vallabh responded with a tweet in Hindi: "For us, India means Bharat Mata. India evokes Mahatma Gandhi, truth and non-violence. India generates the imagery of the greatest democracy in the world and the Constitution. India means 140 crore Indians, farmers, labourers.”

Congress's social media head Supriya Shrinate sought to hold the Prime Minister accountable with a stinging question: “Are 'Skill India', 'Digital India', 'Khelo India', 'Start-up India', 'BJP for India' agents of Indian Mujahideen? You will have to answer this." Modi is credited with having come up with the names of these schemes.

Rahul Gandhi was dismissive of Modi's attempt to deride the alliance, saying: “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.”

It was unfortunate that the name "INDIA" evoked in the Prime Minister's mind the image of a terror outfit and a company that had enslaved the country, the party added.

Demonstrating such negativity about the country’s name — India — did not agree with the position of the Prime Minister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said.

“Dear Prime Minister, why such negativity? The core of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) is the spirit of the Constitution. It has a constructive agenda of national unity, love, peace, employment, farmers’ welfare and women’s safety," she said.

Priyanka added: "You have adopted a negative and insulting approach towards INDIA because of political pique. Demonstrating negativity about the name INDIA doesn’t reflect the dignity of your position. People of India want constructive politics."

Shrinate told Modi: “The truth is that in your habitual tendency of abusing the Opposition, you have today stood against this country. You compared India, the country, with East India Company and Indian Mujahideen? The country will not forgive you for that.”

Modi’s attempt at derision came after BJP leaders such as Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had tried to distinguish between Bharat and India.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said at a media conference: “The government is rattled. Modi’s illogical explanation hints at extreme political frustration. The Opposition parties aren’t Indian Mujahideen. There is a word in Punjabi — Marjeevade. This means living martyrs. We carry the legacy of the freedom fighters who threw the British out. We will die to protect India.”

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge said instead of coming to Parliament to discuss Manipur, Modi talks about East India Company at his party forum. "If he has to discuss East India Company, let’s recall what the Hindu Mahasabha was doing at that time, what was (M.S.) Golwalkar saying, what was Savarkar saying, who opposed the Quit India call given by Mahatma Gandhi?”

Kharge added: “Why is Modi so rattled if there is nothing in the name? They are frightened. This talk of Indian Mujahideen and East India Company reflects fear. We threw the Britishers out of India. Those who didn’t participate in the freedom movement and were associated with the ideology that led to the killing of Gandhi are calling us directionless. We gave direction to the country. Modi is clueless about what to do now.”

Stressing the need for a thorough debate on Manipur, Kharge said: “The Prime Minister should come to Parliament and debate Manipur. There is no point in misleading the people by invoking what happened in Rajasthan and Bengal. Those incidents can’t be compared with Manipur, which is burning for 81 days. The whole world is worried about Manipur. Instead of redeeming his mistakes, he is using diversionary ploys. He has no concern about women’s safety.”

Party spokespersons Tewari and Nasser Hussain issued a statement saying: “It is a well-settled and time-honoured parliamentary tradition that in matters of critical public importance, the Prime Minister makes a statement in both Houses of Parliament. When the Members of Parliament and the general public were keenly awaiting the Prime Minister’s statement in the House, as is typical of him, he simply ignored Parliament much less making any statement in the House.”

They added: “The Prime Minister speaking about Manipur outside the House a few minutes before the monsoon session was about to commence is an instance of grave parliamentary impropriety. This impropriety has been further aggravated by his not speaking a single word on Manipur in Parliament.”

Recalling similar demands by the BJP in the past, Tewari said: "Manmohan Singh spoke in both Houses of Parliament 70 times.”