In a fiery address in the Lok Sabha on July 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress leader and Raebareli MP Rahul Gandhi, employing dialogues from the iconic film “Gangs of Wasseypur” to underscore his criticisms. The Prime Minister’s speech, delivered in response to Congress’ recent charges against his administration, painted a vivid picture of the ongoing political rivalry.
PM Modi accused the Congress of becoming a “parasite” on its allies and wielding “lies” as a political weapon. He claimed that the Congress, under Rahul Gandhi’s leadership, had falsely accused Hindus of being violent, creating a narrative that tarnished the religion’s image. The Prime Minister referenced Rahul Gandhi’s statements from the previous day, where Gandhi had criticized the NDA government with images of deities, to argue that the Congress was engaging in a serious conspiracy to malign Hinduism. Modi emphasized the deep-rooted cultural reverence for deities like Mother Durga in Bengal, questioning the motives behind Gandhi’s comments.
“Jiske darshan hote hai uske pradarshan nahi hote hai,” Modi remarked, implying that true devotion does not seek publicity. He criticized the Congress and its ecosystem for coining terms like ‘Hindu terrorism’ and comparing Hinduism to diseases like dengue and malaria, asserting that such narratives would never be forgiven by the country. In a scathing metaphor, he likened Congress’ attempts to revive its image to a child trying to console himself after a fall by crushing an ant and claiming victory.
Modi highlighted the Congress’ electoral failures, noting that it had failed to cross the 100-seat mark in the Lok Sabha elections three times in a row. Drawing a comparison to the classic Bollywood film ‘Sholay’, he mocked Rahul Gandhi by likening him to a character in the movie who, despite repeated failures, claims moral victories. “Mausi, we got zero seats in 13 states, but he is a hero,” Modi quipped, underscoring the party’s diminishing influence.
The Prime Minister also ridiculed Gandhi’s past comments on the armed forces, particularly his mockery of the Rafale deal, suggesting that the Congress opposes every reform aimed at strengthening India’s defence. Modi reminded the house of Rahul Gandhi’s court-mandated apology for his irresponsible remarks and pointed to the ongoing case against him for allegedly insulting freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. In a pointed conclusion, PM Modi stated, “Today the country is telling him, tumse na ho payega,” signaling that the people have lost faith in Gandhi’s leadership. He also accused the Congress of being addicted to lies, comparing it to an animal addicted to human blood, underscoring his belief that the party’s current trajectory is unsustainable. This speech, rich with cultural references and sharp criticisms, encapsulated the intense political contest between India’s leading parties.