Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 4 May, in a scathing attack, hit out at Congress President Rahul Gandhi saying his father, former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's life ended as "corrupt number 1". He claimed that the Congress chief had admitted in an interview that his only aim is to tarnish Modi's image.
Modi was addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh when he said, “Your (Rahul) father was termed ‘Mr Clean’ by his courtiers, but his life ended as ‘Bhrashtachar No 1’.”
"By hurling abuses, you cannot turn the 50 long years of Modi's tapasya (struggle) into dust," the prime minister said.
“By tarnishing my image and by making me look small, these people want to form an unstable and a weak government in the country,”PM Narendra Modi
"The naamdaar must clearly listen that this Modi was not born with a golden spoon, nor was he born in any royal family," he said, referring to Gandhi.
Modi claimed that the Congress is known for dividing the country, and charged it with bringing down coalition governments in the past.
‘Your Karma Awaits You’: Rahul Gandhi
On Sunday, 5 May, Congress President Rahul Gandhi responded to Modi’s jibe, saying, “The battle is over. Your Karma awaits you. Projecting your inner beliefs about yourself onto my father won’t protect you.”
Rahul Gandhi’s sister, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also tweeted her contempt against PM Modi’s comment saying, “The Prime Minister, who is seeking votes in the name of martyrs, yesterday disrespected the martyrdom of a noble man. People in Amethi will give a befitting reply... Rajiv Gandhi gave his life for the people of Amethi. Yes Modi ji, this nation never forgives deception.”
Sam Pitroda, Indian Overseas Congress chief, said, "We were hurt by what PM said about Rajiv Gandhi yesterday. Normally, the PM of a country speaks for the people, it's a huge accountability. PM can't speak nonsense."
“Why did he say that? We are ashamed of the statement, I am a Gujarati too and come from Gandhi ji’s state. That people of this state can lie so much and speak such lowly things, saddens us.”Sam Pitroda
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram also reacted to the prime minister’s jibe and said, “The PM's remarks on former PM Rajiv Gandhi show the extent of his desperation and fear of defeat.”
‘Disgrace to the Highest Office’
Many others also tweeted against the prime minister’s comment, including journalist Marya Shakil and activist Gurmehar Kaur.
BJP Defends Modi’s Jibe
Union Minister, while addressing a press conference in Delhi on Sunday, said that dynasts are scared of truth.
"Yesterday, the prime minister told the truth about Gandhi family, especially about Rajiv Gandhi, now the brother-sister have started hurling new abuses."
"Whatever the prime minister said is true only," Javadekar added.
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