Congress MPs on Monday staged a walkout from the Rajya Sabha during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the Motion of Thanks on President's address, alleging he was only speaking against the Congress and not on the address. Responding to Modi's attack on the grand old party, Congress leaders mentioned it is because of the Congress there is space for Opposition and dissent and that a party of two MPs is today ruling the country.
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said that the Prime Minister was evasive on the real issues in his speech in Parliament and didn't answer his questions. Responding to PM's remarks on former prime minister Jawahar Lal Nehru leaving Goa under imperial rule to save his own image, Rahul said that his great grandfather served the nation for his entire life and he doesn't need any certificates from anyone. "My great grandfather served the country, I don't need anyone's certificate", Rahul Gandhi said.
On PM's calling Congress a 'dynast-first political party working for its benefits', Rahul Gandhi said the BJP is scared of the Congress as the party only speaks truth and it was visible in the Parliament during PM Modi's speech.
He further said that it doesn't matter whether Prime Minister attacks Congress or any political leader, what matters is what the BJP and the Prime Minister is doing. Reiterating his Lok Sabha speech, Rahul said that Modi is dividing the country between rich and poor.
He said that PM Modi is also putting India at risk with his bankrupt foreign policy. "He didn't answer my questions. We need to take the China and Pakistan issue seriously. If PM Modi wants to attack Congress or Jawahar Lal Nehru, be my guest but at least do your job properly,” Rahul remarked.
Other Opposition leaders from Shiv Sena, RJD and others also regretted the kind of speech the Prime Minister delivered while delivering motion of thanks to the President’s speech. Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi said in constantly ‘abusing’ the former PM Jawaharlal Nehru the current regime in a way is an abuse to the citizens of the day who had chosen Nehru as the PM.
RJD member Manoj Jha said politics is at the lowest ebb when leaders of the day who are leading the nation only like questioning his predecessors and never want to be questioned.