Rahul Gandhi Dares PM For 15-minute Debate, Slips In “Beti Bachao” Taunt
AMN / New Delhi
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Monday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on multiple issues as he launched his year-long “Save the Constitution campaign”. While the programme was seen as an outreach to the Dalit community, the Congress chief spoke of farmers, women, corruption and demanded a 15-minute debate with the Prime Minister in Parliament.
“Modi is afraid to stand in Parliament… If I am allowed to speak for 15 minutes on Rafale issue in Parliament before Modi, he will not be able to withstand it,” said the 48-year-old Congress leader, who took charge of the party in December last year.
Addressing a gathering here to mark the party’s “Save the Constitution” campaign, he accused Modi of destroying country’s reputation abroad and slammed his government’s record in protecting the weaker sections and minorities.
The campaign, launched against the backdrop of uproar in the country over the rape and murder of a minor girl in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kathua and incidents of rapes in other parts of the country including in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh’s Unnao where the accused is a BJP MLA, is also aimed at boosting Congress prospects for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Citing Modi’s slogan of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, Gandhi said it had become “Beti Bachao from BJP.”
Claiming that institutions such as the Supreme Court, high courts, Parliament, assemblies and the Election Commission, IITs, IIMs have been built on the basis of the Constitution which has been given to the country by B.R. Ambedkar and the Congress, Gandhi alleged that people with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) background were being inducted in these institutions by the Modi government.
“It has happened for the first time that four judges of the Supreme Court went to the people to seek justice. The Supreme court is being crushed, it is being suppressed. Parliament was not allowed to run and the press is also being crushed,” he said on a day when the impeachment notice given against Chief Justice of India by members of Congress and six other opposition parties was rejected by Rajya Sabha Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu.
Referring to Modi’s radio programme “Mann ki baat”, Gandhi said people will tell him their “mann ki baat” in 2019.
“Dalits may get killed, minorities face atrocities, country may burn, women may face rapes, it is nothing. Narendra Modi only wants to understand one thing that how he can become Prime Minister (again). What all has to be done to be prime minister.. only this is his interest,” he said, alleging Modi was afraid to face Parliament on issues like the PNB fraud scam, deportation of Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallaya and the Rafale fighter deal.
“If I am allowed to speak for 15 minutes on Rafale issue in Parliament before Modi, he will not be able to withstand it,” he said.
This country belongs to each and every one of us. It is the duty of the Congress party to protect the Constitution, the institutions and every single one of our citizens.#SaveTheConstitution https://t.co/40wPM0vqs2
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 23, 2018
Referring to the second half of the budget session of Parliament, Gandhi said it was for the first time that the treasury benches “disrupted” the Houses, instead of the opposition.
Noting IMF chief Christine Lagarde had told Modi recently that atrocities were being committed against women in India, he said that even despite this, the Prime Minister was quiet.
He also questioned Modi for associating spirituality with cleaning of toilets, saying for him, the only spirituality was in “becoming the Prime Minister”.
Gandhi, who faced a question during his address, asked media persons if they could pose a query to Modi when he was speaking.
“That’s the difference between us and them. You attack us and we protect you. That is what we are. We defend the press. That is the difference between us and them. We will continue to do so. And will support you because we know you are brave people. And we will support your fight,” he said.
The BJP was quick to hit back. “Rahul has been saying he wants 15 minutes to talk since 15 days; Here’s your answer Rahul Gandhi – a person who cannot write 15 lines without looking at his phone, wants to talk for 15 minutes,” said BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra.