Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a blistering critique of the Congress party and the Gandhi family during his Thursday address in the Rajya Sabha, employing sharp rhetoric that dominated parliamentary proceedings. The Prime Minister's speech, marked by intense political confrontation, accused the opposition party of engaging in what he termed "habitual theft" and made sensational allegations regarding the appropriation of Mahatma Gandhi's legacy.
"Family Profession of Stealing": PM Modi's Direct Allegation
In a dramatic moment that prompted opposition walkouts and loud protests, Prime Minister Modi declared that stealing had become a family profession for certain political dynasties. "For some people, stealing is a family profession. What's shocking is that those habitual thieves have also stolen the surname of a Gujarati, Mahatma Gandhi," the Prime Minister stated emphatically. This pointed remark, delivered amid chaotic scenes in the Upper House, represented one of the most direct personal attacks on the Gandhi family's political lineage in recent parliamentary history.
Startup Culture Dig and Leadership Mockery
Further intensifying his criticism, the Prime Minister turned his attention to Congress's approach to innovation and entrepreneurship. "Congress never promoted startup culture… They cannot even lift the startup of their own house," he remarked, in what was widely interpreted as a veiled reference to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's political journey. This dual-pronged attack simultaneously questioned the party's economic vision while mocking its internal leadership dynamics, creating a narrative of both policy failure and personal inadequacy.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi as "Yuvraj"
Prime Minister Modi specifically addressed remarks made by Rahul Gandhi in the House the previous day, employing the term "Yuvraj" (crown prince) to describe the Congress leader. "What happened yesterday — the 'Yuvraj' of Congress who has 'shaatir dimag' (clever mind), called an MP of this House 'traitor'. His arrogance is at its peak," the Prime Minister asserted. This characterization framed the opposition leader's comments within a dynastic political framework while questioning both his judgment and temperament.
Allegations of Religious Discrimination
The Prime Minister escalated his criticism by alleging that Rahul Gandhi's "traitor" remark was selectively directed at a Sikh Member of Parliament, suggesting religious bias within Congress ranks. "He did not call anyone else who has left the Congress a traitor. But he called the MP a traitor, because he is a Sikh. This was an insult to the Sikhs, an insult to the Gurus. This was an expression of the hatred for Sikhs that is filled in the Congress," Modi claimed. This serious accusation transformed the political disagreement into a matter of communal sensitivity and religious respect.
Defending Political Defectors
In a broader defense of politicians who change political affiliations, the Prime Minister questioned the appropriateness of labeling such individuals as traitors. "He is a member of a family who sacrificed themselves for the country. Just because he changed his political ideology, he became a traitor? This is not a small word. How can the country tolerate a citizen being called a traitor?" he asked rhetorically. This argument positioned the government as protector of democratic values against what was portrayed as Congress's authoritarian tendencies.
Concluding his sharp critique, Prime Minister Modi characterized the entire episode as "highly unfortunate" and predicted that such behavior would ultimately lead to Congress's political decline. The speech, delivered during a session already marked by tension, significantly escalated the ongoing political confrontation between the ruling party and the principal opposition, setting the stage for further parliamentary clashes in the coming sessions.
