'Where's the 56-inch chest?': Rahul Gandhi takes dig at PM Modi on US tariff, Yunus' India jibe

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him "where is the 56-inch chest", citing the imposition of 26% tariff by the United States and Bangladesh Chief Advisor Mohd Yunus making adverse statements about India.

Addressing the AICC Session here on the Sabarmati banks, he referred to the Waqf (Amendment) Act as "anti-Constitution" and an attack on the freedom of religion, while warning that the BJP-RSS will soon go after the rights of minorities like Sikhs and Christians.

Recalling how Modi used to "boast about his friend (US President Donald Trump)", Rahul warned about an "economic storm" in the country over US imposition of tariff.

"Did you see the photograph of PM Modi hugging Trump? This time he ordered Modi-ji that 'we will not hug but will impose new tariffs'. PM Modi did not say a word. To divert attention from this they ran a drama in Parliament for two days. Where is the PM hiding?" he said.

He also spoke about Modi's meeting with Bangladesh's Chief Advisor Mohammad Yunus and said the Bangladeshi leader "gives adverse remarks and he (Modi) is sitting with him. Where is the 56-inch chest".

Accusing the BJP-RSS of using polarising agenda, he claimed that BJP workers are "full of hatred" unlike Congress workers, as he referred to an incident in Rajasthan involving the Leader of Opposition leader Tika Ram Jully's visit to a temple, which was later washed by one of the BJP leaders. Jully is a Dalit.

"They claim to be Hindus. They don't give a right to a Dalit to enter a temple. They get it cleaned. This is not our religion. Our religion is that which respects every religion and every person," he said.

Only the Congress can defeat the BJP-RSS and no other party can do it because, the Congress has an ideology, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the country, he said adding that the BJP government was attacking the Constitution and the constitutional institutions.

Reaffirming his party’s commitment to carry out Caste Census, he said the Congress government in Telangana has carried out the exercise, which disclosed that 90% of the population belonged to Dalits, OBCs, Adivasis, minorities and poor from the general castes. They did not have any voice and the situation in Telangana resembles in other places.

"Caste Census is not merely the counting of people, but it also tells the level and share of their participation in the decision-making process...We will break the wall of 50% reservation. What Telangana has done, we are going to do across the country...Modi-ji talks 24 hours about Backwards, tribals, but when it comes to their participation, then BJP people keep quiet," he said.

Referring to a now-withdrawn article RSS mouthpiece Organiser's website following passage of Waqf (Amendment) Bill, he claimed that it revealed that the BJP and RSS have now set their sight on the rights of Christians, and Sikhs would be next.