Modi trains gun on Congress; decries ‘politics over Manipur’
By Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi, August 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress in his reply to the debate on the motion of no confidence against his government, while decrying “politics over Manipur violence”. In his almost 90-minute speech, Modi singled out the Congress for his vicious attack, while seeking spotlight on the achievements of his government.
“Talks at various levels are taking place on the issue of Manipur violence. We are hopeful that peace will once more return to Manipur. The state will once more march on the path of development,” said Modi. His statements on Manipur came late in the speech and were brief. He referred to the “detailed statements” made by Union Minister for Home Affairs Amit Shah on the issue of the Manipur violence yesterday in the Lok Sabha.
But Modi sought to hit out at the Opposition, arguing that politics was resorted to by some over the violence in Manipur. “The House should have discussed the issue and sent out a loud message to the people of Manipur that Parliament is with them. But the Opposition parties resorted to politics only,” charged Modi.
The prime minister made it clear right at the outset that his target will be the Congress, as he first lashed at the main Opposition party for marginalizing the leader of the party in the House Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as he was not made the lead speaker for the debate on the motion of no-confidence. Afterwards, he hit out, without taking the name, at Rahul Gandhi, saying that the Congress had been launching and re-launching the same failed product again and again.
“The Congress is trying to apply a paint at a dilapidated building. The Congress is seeking to make a scrap vehicle into an electric vehicle,” said Modi in the veiled reference to Gandhi. Modi also hit out at Gandhi’s remarks on “Bharat Mata” made yesterday, saying that the sentiments of the people have been hurt by such careless remarks.
By singling out the Congress for his sharpest attack, Modi has sought to admit that the main Opposition party is the principal threat to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in the coming elections. The BJP will be squaring off against the Congress in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in the upcoming Assembly elections. Modi patted his government by quoting the report of the NITI Aayog that over 13 crore people have come out of extreme poverty during his tenure.
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