Rahul Gandhi Accuses PM Modi of Being 'Afraid of Truth' in Fiery Exchange
Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has issued a sharp retort to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent attacks during the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address. In a pointed social media post, Gandhi asserted that the prime minister appears to be "afraid of the truth" and has consequently "taken refuge in lies." This exchange highlights the escalating political tensions between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress party.
Gandhi's Social Media Post and Modi's Defense
Rahul Gandhi took to X to express his views, posting in Hindi: "Bas sawalon se itni ghabrahat? Modi ji sachai se itna darr gaye ki jhooth ki sharan le li. Khair, jo unhe theek laga, wahi kiya" which translates to "Is there so much fear of questions? Modi ji seems so afraid of the truth that he has taken refuge in lies. Anyway, he did what he thought was appropriate." This comment came in response to PM Modi's speech, where the prime minister defended BJP leader and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu, whom Gandhi had previously referred to as "my traitor friend."
PM Modi, in his address, accused the Congress of harboring "hatred" for Sikhs, linking Gandhi's remark to what he described as a pattern of disrespect. Modi stated, "A 'shatir dimaag' of Congress called a member of this House a traitor. This is the peak of his arrogance. So many factions have split from the Congress, so many people have left, he called the MP a traitor because he is Sikh... It was an insult of Sikhs, Gurus, and showed the hatred against Sikhs that the Congress has." The prime minister also launched broader criticisms against former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, as well as the Congress party as a whole.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Joins the Fray
Adding to the political drama, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also targeted PM Modi, alleging that he is "hiding behind" Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Her remarks followed Speaker Birla's statement in the House, where he mentioned having advised the prime minister against attending due to "concrete information" about potential disruptions from Congress MPs. Priyanka Gandhi dismissed this as an "absolute lie," insisting there was no credible threat to the PM's safety.
She elaborated, "The PM is hiding behind the Speaker. Yesterday, he did not have the guts to come to the House because three women were standing before the bench. What nonsense is this?..There is no discussion because the govt doesn't want discussion to happen." Further, she accused the Central government of manipulating the Speaker to convey these messages, suggesting a lack of courage on the part of the prime minister to face the opposition directly.
Broader Implications and Political Context
This heated exchange underscores the deepening rift in Indian politics, with both sides trading accusations of dishonesty and cowardice. The Congress party, led by figures like Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, is positioning itself as a vocal critic of the Modi administration, challenging its narratives and actions in Parliament. Meanwhile, PM Modi and the BJP continue to counterattack by questioning the opposition's integrity and historical record.
As the Lok Sabha session progresses, such confrontations are likely to shape public discourse and influence upcoming political strategies. The focus on issues like truth, transparency, and parliamentary decorum remains central to this ongoing debate, reflecting broader national concerns about governance and accountability.
