Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said India was “lacking in leadership”, adding that “incompetence” and pro-corporate politics had brought the country to a “dangerous situation”.

The Congress leader contended the government had created a mess on three fronts — the economy, social harmony and national security — and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was now unable to handle
the multiple crises after weakening the country from within.

He pleaded with Modi to focus on the job he had been elected to do rather than “sell the country to one per cent of the population”.

Among his prescriptions for the Prime Minister were the immediate withdrawal of the new farm laws, a revving up of the economy by creating demand and a firm message to China.

“Basically, if you look at the broader picture, what has happened is that the government is now unable to control the situation.

They are basically unable to handle the governance of this country. Their incompetence is now coming to the fore,” Rahul said at a media conference.

Rahul said: “They have messed up the economy, they have messed up the harmony, they have messed up the defence and they want to keep distracting India with non-events.”

He added: “I’m saying that the country is in a dangerous situation. The world is in a flux. We have an aggressive China on the border. They have a clear vision of what they want to achieve. We don’t have one. We are completely unclear about what we want to achieve and it is dangerous for the country when you have a situation like this on the border.

“You are destroying your economic structure and it is dangerous for the country. I said in February that Covid is dangerous for the country and I was ridiculed. I’m saying it again — the condition that we are going through is dangerous for the country. The country requires the Prime Minister to take strict, quick action.

“It requires the Prime Minister to put money immediately into the hands of our people and start the economy. It requires he protects MSMEs which give us jobs. It requires a clear message to China that you cannot do this with us. You cannot be sitting in our land and expect nothing is going to happen.”

Attacking Modi, Rahul said: “This country is lacking in leadership. There is no leadership in the country any more. There is just talk. There is no understanding, no strategy. The thing has come apart. Now of course what is there is a media that is controlled and hence the reality of what is going on is not coming out. Believe me, that maya (illusion) is going to break. Somebody is going to break that maya.”

He further said: “So my constant request to the Prime Minister is, do your job. You have been elected to do a job. Your job is not to sell this country to one per cent of the population. Your job is to protect the farmers who are standing outside.

“Go, hold their hand, give them a hug and tell them, ‘What can I do for you?’ Your job is to ensure small and medium businesses can compete with China. Talk to them, ask them because they have the answer to China. So the PM has basically given up. He is now on a different plane. He has got a beard that is… we are going somewhere else now and the country is not being run. My request to the PM is please gather courage and run the country.”

Rahul wondered why the government had resorted to fortifying Delhi’s borders against farmers.

“Are they afraid of farmers? Are the farmers enemies? Farmers are the strength of this country. They give sustenance. The government’s job is not to beat them up, not to threaten them. This is not good for the country’s future,” he said.

“The Prime Minister says he is ready to put off the farm laws for two years. Why two years? You either get rid of the laws or you don’t. Farmers are not going away. The government has to back off. Good they do it now.”

Asked about the farmers being described as terrorists and Khalistanis, he said: “Are 60 per cent of our population terrorist?”

He resorted to irony: “Only RSS is not terrorist, rest all are terrorist.”

Asked whether India’s image was being dented outside because of the farmers’ agitation, Rahul said: “The reputation of India has taken a massive hit because of how we treat our farmers, our journalists. India is known for its soft power. That has been shattered by the RSS-BJP — their mindset.”

To a question about the Red Fort breach during the Republic Day tractor parade, he said: “It is the duty of the home minister to explain to the country what he was doing. How did these people enter the Red Fort? It is his responsibility.”

Rahul criticised the budget, saying: “We hoped it will support 99 per cent people but this budget is for one per cent of the population. Money is being snatched from farmers, workers, small and medium businesses, defence forces to be given to one per cent of the population. Even privatisation will benefit the same one per cent.”

Referring to the minimum income support scheme the Congress had promised before the 2019 general election, he said: “A Nyay-like scheme to give money to the hands of the people was needed. What is the message we sent to China by not enhancing the defence budget? The government should have 110 per cent commitment towards the soldiers, willing to give whatever they need. What kind of nationalism is this?”