Rahul Gandhi’s ‘traitors’, ‘murdered India in Manipur’ attack on Modi government

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, in his first speech in Parliament after he was reinstated as an MP, hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday over the Manipur violence and said the government "divided" the northeastern state into two parts.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the no-confidence motion debate on the Manipur issue, Rahul Gandhi said while he visited the strife-torn state and met women and children at the relief camps, the prime minister had not done.

The Prime Minister was not in the House when Rahul Gandhi spoke.

"A few days back, I went to Manipur. Our Prime Minister didn't go, not even to this day, because for him Manipur is not India," he said.

The Manipur violence has been a prominent issue in the ongoing monsoon session of Parliament, where House proceedings have been frequently disrupted. The Opposition moved a no-confidence motion against the government in the Lok Sabha, demanding a statement from PM Modi on the Manipur violence.

More than 160 people have died since ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki communities broke out in the northeastern state.

Terming the Modi government as "traitors", Rahul Gandhi said they were not "nationalists" and alleged that its politics "murdered India" in Manipur.

"They killed India in Manipur. Not just Manipur, but they killed India. Their politics has not killed Manipur, but it has killed India in Manipur. They have murdered India in Manipur," he said.

He likened PM Modi to 'raavan' and said he was "arrogant" since he was not listening to the voices of the people.

Invoking the epic Ramayana, Rahul Gandhi said, "Lanka was not set on fire by Lord Hanuman but by Raavan's arrogance. Ravan was not killed by Ram but by his arrogance."

Rahul Gandhi asserted that the Indian Army can restore peace in Manipur in one day but alleged that the government was not using its services.

As Rahul Gandhi was speaking, several BJP members interrupted his speech and raised slogans. Union Ministers, including Kiren Rijiju and Smriti Irani, hit back at the Congress leader and demanded an apology for his remarks on Manipur.

SMRITI IRANI'S COUNTER ATTACK

Launching a scathing counterattack to Rahul Gandhi's speech, Smriti Irani took a 'Quit India' jibe.

"You are not India, for India is not corrupt. India believes in merit not in dynasty. Today of all the days, people like you need to remember what was told to the British -- Quit India. Corruption Quit India, Dynasty Quit India. Merit now finds a place in India," Irani said.

Incidentally, Irani's remarks came on the day as the country marked the anniversary of the Quit India movement, which was a major milestone in the history of India’s struggle for independence from British rule.

RAHUL GANDHI THANKS SPEAKER

Earlier, while beginning his speech, Rahul Gandhi thanked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for reinstating him as an MP. The Congress leader got back his parliamentary membership after the Supreme Court paused his conviction in the 2019 Modi surname case.

He also said he would not speak on the Adani issue and that his "BJP friends" should not be scared.

"Speaker Sir, first of all, I would like to thank you for reinstating me as an MP of the Lok Sabha. When I spoke the last time, perhaps I caused you trouble because I focussed on Adani -- maybe your senior leader was pained...That pain might have had an impact on you as well. I apologise to you for that. But I spoke the truth," the Congress leader said.

"Today, my friends in BJP need not be scared because my speech today is not on Adani," he further said.