The Congress on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi demonstrated his deep personal insecurities by misusing Parliament to malign Rahul Gandhi instead of responding to vital national concerns, arguing that his speech was far below his own “pathetic standards” of sobriety.
While Congress Rajya Sabha member Shaktisinh Gohil said Modi spoke the language of a “tapori” (hooligan), party chief whip Jairam Ramesh tweeted: “Some elevate debates in Parliament, but even by his pathetic standards of decency, dignity, sobriety of language and fidelity to facts, the Prime Minister plumbed new depths in the Rajya Sabha today, forcing an Opposition walkout.”
Exasperated by the Prime Minister’s fanatical assault on the Congress, party leaders wondered whether Parliament’s session was convened for this purpose and not to discuss the critical issues that India was grappling with. They asked the Prime Minister why he didn’t answer specific questions on the Chinese threat, Pegasus snooping, attack on federalism, unemployment, growing economic inequality, price rise, Covid mismanagement and the promise to double farmers’ income.
Rahul responded to Modi’s reply to the motion of thanks to the President’s address by saying: “I raised three issues. 1. Two Indias are growing; one for the rich and one for the poor. 2. All institutions are captured which is harming the country. 3. China and Pakistan are coming together. The Prime Minister didn’t say anything about these issues. I warned about Covid and nobody listened. Now I am saying China-Pakistan axis needs to be taken seriously. But they have a bankrupt foreign policy. I heard the response of external affairs minister. The gentleman doesn’t understand his job.”
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said: “Modi’s irrelevant talk was gross misuse of Parliament. Was the session called to discuss dynastic politics? We supported our charge of gap between the promises and delivery with statistical details. Rahul Gandhi had raised serious issues. But Modi was interested only in humiliating the Congress. What if Congress wasn’t there? Was the President’s address about this subject?”
Lok Sabha member Gaurav Gogoi said: “Rahul Gandhi’s speech focused on Chinese threat, growing inequality between the rich and the poor and the trust deficit between the Centre and the states. The shahenshah (king) that Rahul referred to in his speech got so upset that he forgot everything and spent the entire time attacking him. As if the Chinese threat doesn’t exist. As if rising prices not an issue. As if unemployment isn’t a crisis. As if death of 700 farmers does not matter.”
Gogoi added: “We felt we are in a BJP training camp, not in Parliament. You don’t like Congress, fine. But Congress is not seeking jobs. Talk about the unemployed youth, about states’ apprehensions on IAS rules. Tell Parliament why did you allow Pegasus snooping. Instead you chose to tell the BJP workers how to attack the Congress. Why is Modi so insecure?”
Warning Modi not to force them to stoop to his level, Shaktisinh Gohil said: “When a good man gets a high post, he becomes humble. When an undeserving man reaches the top, he is blinded by arrogance. Modi lives in glasshouse. We know lots of things about him. But we don’t want to make personal attacks. There has to be some dignity when you speak in Parliament. It was his duty to answer questions. But he only attacked Congress in an abusive manner.”
Gohil further said: “He is criticising the Congress for irresponsible behaviour on Covid. When Rahul Gandhi was constantly asking him to prepare for Covid, they were making fun of him. Modi was doing dialogue-baazi — Mahabharat battle was won in 18 days, we will win Covid battle in 21 days. The government promised to complete 100 per cent vaccination by December 2021. It hasn’t been done so far. What we see is hollow rhetoric only.”
The Congress launched an intense social media campaign to counter Modi’s charge on Covid, asking if feeding the poor, giving oxygen to patients and arranging vehicle for the stranded was a crime.
Kharge also said: “Modi now says Congress instigated migrant workers in Maharashtra to return to Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The crisis was triggered by the sudden lockdown. Millions were frightened as there was no livelihood option, no food, no shelter. And the government vanished. Later, who allowed trains to ply for which we bought the tickets? Maharashtra is being blamed from where 817 trains left carrying migrant workers. From Gujarat, 1,033 trains originated. Was Congress responsible for that?”
Party’s communications chief Randeep Surjewala countered Modi’s boast of India entering “Amrit Kal”. He said: “It is Amrit Kal for the crony capitalists. Lies, hate, arrogance and false propaganda make ‘Rahu Kal’ for the poor, farmers, workers and small businesses.”
Arguing that a party with barely two MPs was in power today because the Congress sustained democracy, he said: “If Modi wasn’t there, petrol wouldn’t have crossed Rs 100 for a litre, gas cylinder wouldn’t have touched Rs 1,000, edible oils wouldn’t have cost Rs 200, unemployment wouldn’t have peaked, economic offenders wouldn’t have fled the country and NPAs wouldn’t have reached Rs 10 lakh crore.”
