Congress leader launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP targeting it over remarks during Lok Sabha campaign, NEET-UG controversy, Agniveer scheme…reports Asian Lite News
Rahul Gandhi’s maiden speech as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha generated political heat on Monday with BJP leaders accusing him “of speaking lies, misleading the House and terming the entire Hindu community violent” and the Congress hitting back with counter allegations against the Modi government.
While the BJP held a press conference later to denounce Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, Congress also held an evening presser to slam the ruling party at the Centre.
Rahul Gandhi launched a multi-pronged attack on the BJP targeting it over its leaders’ remarks during Lok Sabha campaign, NEET-UG controversy, Agniveer scheme.
As Rahul Gandhi made remarks pertaining to BJP and Hindu community, there was a huge uproar from the treasury benches.
“There has been a systematic and a full-scale assault on the idea of India, the Constitution and on the people who resisted the attack on Constitution. Many of us were personally attacked. Some of the leaders are still in jail. Anyone who resisted the idea of concentration of power and wealth, aggression on poor and Dalits and minorities was crushed. I was attacked by the order of Govt of India, by the order of the Prime Minister of India…The most enjoyable part of it was the 55 hours of interrogation by ED,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“Abhayamudra is the symbol of Congress…The Abhayamudra is the gesture of fearlessness, is the gesture of reassurance and safety, which dispels fear and accords divine protection and bliss in Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism and other Indian religions….All our great men have spoken about non-violence and finishing fear…But, those who call themselves Hindu only talk about violence, hatred, untruth…Aap Hindu ho hi nahi,” he added.
Rahul Gandhi carried an image depicting Lord Shiva to emphasise his point about ending fear. Speaker Om Birla said that displaying images is not allowed in the House and said the manner in which the Congress leader was displaying and then keeping down the image depicting a revered deity is not right.
Home Minister Amit Shah targeted Rahul Gandhi and said connecting violence with any religion is wrong.
“The Leader of Opposition has categorically said that those who call themselves Hindu talk of violence and do violence. He doesn’t know that crores of people proudly call themselves Hindu. Connecting violence with any religion is wrong. He should apologise,” Amit Shah said.
Pincer attack on Modi
Rahul Gandhi also said the BJP is not the entire Hindu society.
“Narendra Modi is not entire Hindu society. BJP is not entire Hindu society, RSS is not entire society, this is not BJP’s contract,” Rahul Gandhi said.
Rahul Gandhi also alleged that ministers were scared of greeting him in the presence of PM Modi.
The Prime Minister took a dig at Rahul Gandhi and said democracy has taught him to take the democracy seriously.
“Democracy and the Constitution have taught me that I need to take the Leader of Opposition seriously,” Modi said.
On Agniveer Scheme
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks pertaining to the Agniveer Scheme were countered by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
The Congress leader said the opposition was not an enemy of the government and offered full cooperation and support to take the country forward.
Gandhi said he was the leader of the entire opposition and when the opposition leaders like Hemant Soren and Arvind Kejriwal were in jail, it should disturb him.
Apart from Lord Shiva, Rahul Gandhi invoked Prophet Mohammad, Guru Nanak, Jesus Christ, Lord Budha and Lord Mahavir, saying that he had taken the idea of fearlessness from their teachings.
The Congress leader accused the BJP and RSS of preaching and spreading violence and hatred.
Dig on Ayodhya defeat
The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha said that the people of Ayodhya had conveyed the message to BJP by defeating its candidate. He said there was anger and resentment among people in Ayodhya as their houses had been demolished and they had not been provided any compensation. The government countered his allegations and said he was not speaking facts.
Gandhi claimed that Modi had wanted to contest from Ayodhya but decided against it based on surveys and that his victory margin from Varanasi had dropped.
He alleged that leaders of various opposition parties were targeted, citing his own example that he was slapped with cases, sentenced to two years imprisonment and his house taken away.
“But we are not scared of you…rather you are scared of the Congress,” he said.
He accused the BJP of targeting minorities and said they are patriots and have represented the country in different spheres of life and made it feel proud.
‘Modi’s reign of terror’
Rahul Gandhi on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “reign of fear” for 10 years and said that scaring others and spreading fear is against the “spirit of India.”
“Narendra Modi has been running the ‘reign of fear’ for 10 years! By taking control of all the agencies, institutions and media, BJP has only worked to spread fear in every section of the society. Farmers fear black laws, Students are afraid of paper leak, Youth fear unemployment, Small traders fear wrong GST, demonetisation and raids, Patriots fear schemes like Agniveer, People of Manipur fear civil war,” Rahul Gandhi posted on X.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and BJP spokesperson Sudhanshi Trivedi held a joint press conference to denounce Rahul Gandhi’s remarks. (ANI)
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