New Delhi: Congress leader reacted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speeches in parliament saying that the latter could criticise the opposition party but should also do his “job”.“If you like abusing the Congress and Nehru, be my guest but do your job,” Gandhi said.Replying to the Motion of Thanks on President’s Address, Modi on Tuesday continued his attack on Congress and chose the Nehru-Gandhi family.Describing dynastic parties as the biggest threat to India’s democracy, he said Nehru, “concerned about his global image”, refused to send the Army to help Ram Manohar Lohia-led ‘satyagrahis’ working for Goa’s independence.The Wire, in an analysis, has noted how the prime minister’s two parliament speeches resembled Bharatiya Janata Party’s social media and pre-election rhetoric closely. After calling Congress the leader of the “tukde–tukde gang” for the first time on Monday in his Lok Sabha speech, on Tuesday, Modi said that Congress has been taken over by the mentality of “urban naxals”.Gandhi said that the prime minister was afraid of Congress as it spoke the truth.“My great grandfather [India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru] served this country. He gave his entire life to this country. So, I don’t need anyone’s certificate for my great grandfather,” Gandhi told reporters, according to Indian Express.The Congress staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha during the prime minister’s address.Also read: Modi Speech Dodges Economic Distress, Rewrites Govt’s COVID Record to Blame Congress, AAP‘Election speech’Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said the PM only spoke against the party, it was irrelevant and did not speak on the president’s address.“The prime minister only gave an election speech and attacked the Congress only as elections to five states are on. He said nothing in the interest of the country and did not give any vision of his government in the coming year,”he said.Responding to Modi’s attack on the Congress, party general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said it is because of the Congress there is space for opposition and dissent and that a party of two MPs is today ruling the country.“The Congress is there and that is why Babasaheb’s constitution is there, dreams of freedom fighters are coming true, Bapu’s thoughts and ideals are alive, nuclear power and technological revolution is there,” he wrote on Twitter.He asked the prime minister to refrain from using unparliamentary language and making rhetorical speeches, and asked him if he had done some work for the people.Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a tweet, “Some elevate debates in Parliament, but even by his pathetic standards of decency, dignity, sobriety of language and fidelity to facts, the PM plumbed new depths in the Rajya Sabha today, forcing an opposition walkout.”Party leader Gaurav Gogoi said, “Shahanshah Modi ji was so disturbed by Rahul Gandhi’s speech that instead of talking about India, he spent close to two hours attacking Rahul ji, attacking the Congress. The prime minister was ultra defensive and so insecure that he thought that price rise is not an issue in today’s time.”(With PTI inputs)
