New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday stated “these stuffed with hate are defaming India”, in sharp feedback seen as his first (and veiled) response to Rahul Gandhi‘s remarks in america final week, together with one freedom for spiritual minorities, just like the Sikhs, within the nation. Mr Modi was talking in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad, the place he inaugurated infrastructure initiatives price Rs 8,000 crore.
The PM didn’t title Mr Gandhi however accused “some individuals” of performing towards the pursuits of the nation. “… (some) stuffed with negativity are concentrating on India’s unity. These stuffed with hate usually are not leaving any probability to defame India and Gujarat… wish to do tukde, tukde (break-up) the nation,” he stated.
He additionally made marketing campaign references forward of the primary section of voting, on Wednesday, for the Jammu and Kashmir Meeting election, hitting out on the Congress and its ally, the Nationwide Convention.
The 2 have promised to revive particular standing for J&Ok underneath Article 370, which was scrapped by the ruling BJP, which additionally break up J&Ok into two union territories, in August 2019.
READ | “Article 370 Is History, Will Never Come Back”: Amit Shah In J&K
Seeking to strike an emotive word with voters in J&Ok and in different poll-bound states this yr, together with Haryana and Maharashtra, Mr Modi stated the primary 100 days of his third time period had seen him insulted and mocked by his critics, however that “if I dwell for you… I’ll sacrifice myself for you.”
Rahul Gandhi’s feedback within the US – at numerous public occasions, together with these attended by Indian college students and diaspora group members – have drawn fierce responses from a battery of union ministers, together with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and International Minister S Jaishankar, however that is the primary time Mr Modi has alluded to the Congress chief’s jabs.
Mr Gandhi, interacting with diaspora members, spoke concerning the struggle with the BJP being an ideological divide over questions like “… is a Sikh allowed to put on a turban (or) kada (a metal bangle)?
The comment was fiercely condemned by Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who pointed to the anti-Sikh riots of 1984, after Mr Gandhi’s grandmother, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated.
READ | “Dangerous Narrative…”: Minister Slams Rahul Gandhi’s Sikh Comment
Mr Jaishankar, whereas addressing Indian diaspora in Switzerland, stated, “Life is not ‘khata–khat‘ (a straightforward job) … it requires onerous work.” Use of the phrase was seen as a jab at Mr Gandhi, who earlier claimed the Congress would resolve points ‘khata khat‘ if voted to energy.
RED | ‘They Want To Bleed Mother India’: Veep’s Attack On Rahul
Rahul Gandhi additionally got here underneath assault from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who final week stated individuals holding excessive workplace (Mr Gandhi is the Chief of the Opposition within the Lok Sabha) had been “behaving in such a manner they’ve forgotten the oath of allegiance to the Structure”.
Amongst his many feedback – together with these on Indian international coverage and relations with China – Mr Gandhi had additionally attacked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, seen because the ideological mentor of the BJP. That assault triggered livid responses of its personal.
Mr Gandhi stated neither the BJP nor the RSS understood that India is for all individuals, and, utilizing a plate of meals for example, stated, “In India every part works collectively…if somebody says rice is extra vital than dal, and vegetable are the least vital, what is going to occur?”
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