Rahul Gandhi, senior Congress leader, railed angrily against Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, laying into them for putting the industrialists ahead of the ordinary man.
In his remarks, Rahul Gandhi said the BJP-led central government has “sold the country to industrialists,” and asserted national funds are in the wrong hands of the likes of rich businessmen. Speaking out against the BJP leadership, the Congress MP targeted Modi and Amit Shah with derogatory language, referring to them as “traitors” and accusing the government of silencing farmers, workers, youth and small businessmen.
Rahul Gandhi said the present government’s economic policies are favouring a few corporate houses and that ordinary people are still being hurt by inflation, unemployment and financial stress. He also criticised the Centre for weakening the organs of the public sector and narrowing prospects for the middle class and the poor.
The Congress leader also mentioned rising prices, unemployment and farmer worries as he attacked the ruling party. The government is more concerned with protecting the interests of the corporates, he says, than addressing the true problems of citizens.
The remarks quickly set off a political maelstrom, and BJP leaders vehemently criticised Rahul Gandhi’s outburst. Several BJP spokesmen said the leadership of the Congress was not simply using disrespectful language against the country’s elected leaders but was trying to divide a politically polarised party going into the next elections.
BJP leaders condemned the Modi government’s policies, arguing instead that reforms and industrial investments are crucial for economic growth, job generation and infrastructure facilities. It called for Rahul Gandhi’s apology for the offensive speech. Rahul Gandhi has previously accused the BJP government of being pro-industrialist.
Over the past few years, a tight political circle formed between the ruling party and big corporates he has repeatedly accused so-so relationships with the former that it a major issue in the Congress election campaign. The latest feud sharpened the fighting between the Congress and BJP once again, and supporters of both parties have been discussing how this latest round of exchanges is being expressed on social media and in real life.
