JOIN USRahul rips apart Modi govt
A combative Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a host of issues in the Lok Sabha accusing him of proposing a unique “fair and lovely” scheme to legitimise black money.
In his 30-minute wit-and-sarcasm-laden speech in the Lok Sabha, Rahul ripped into Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan, the JNU row, claims of clinching the Naga Peace Accord and failure to fulfil promises made ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. He was speaking in the Lok Sabha on the motion of thanks on the President’s address. He also likened the prime minister to controversial Yugoslavian president Slobodan Milosevic, who faced trial for war crimes and genocide, and also to Yahaya Khan, the military ruler of Pakistan, who presided over civil unrest that led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971.
Rahul said that Modi “personally took Pakistan out of the little cage” the UPA had managed to put it into through frenetic diplomacy after the Mumbai terror attack of 2008.
“By having a ‘chai pe charcha’ with (Pakistan Premier) Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister single-handedly destroyed six years of hard work put in by the UPA,” he said claiming that Modi had not consulted anyone before taking a detour to Lahore.
Rahul accused Modi of not listening to his colleagues, ignoring the voice of the people, especially the youth. He also claimed that Home Minister Rajnath Singh was completely in the dark over Naga Peace Accord announced by Modi.
“The prime minister has to listen to others. Listen to Rajnath Singhji, Sushma Swarajji, Advaniji? Listen to your MPs. Listen to your own people. Listen to the voice of next generation. We are not your enemies. We do not hate you,” the Congress vice president said amid jeering by some BJP MPs.
Rahul also raised the hackles of BJP members when he mentioned Vinayak Damodar Savarkar a few times. As BJP members claimed Rahul was insulting Savarkar, the Congress vice-president hit back saying, “I only stated that Gandhi is ours and Savarkar yours. Is this not true” Or have you disowned Savarkar? Have you thrown out Savarkar.” He also took a dig at Finance Minister Arun Jaitley saying for a moment he felt Chidambaram was presenting the Budget on Monday when the Centre announced increase in allocation to UPA’s flagship scheme MGNREGA.
Rahul wondered whether Modi was targeting JNU because 60 per cent of the students there were either Dalits, OBCs or minorities.