BJP hails PM Modi’s foreign tours, takes dig at Rahul Gandhi

The BJP on Sunday presented a ‘report card’ on the outcomes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent foreign tours and criticised Rahul Gandhi, saying the prime minister returned having secured a victory for the country, while the Congress leader, who is abroad, must be “conspiring” behind closed doors.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, party spokesperson Sambit Patra cited Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s remarks that he adopted many of Modi’s policies and took a dig at Gandhi, saying if the Congress leader had emulated Modi “even a little bit”, he would not have lost 99 elections.

Patra also took on the Congress and other Opposition parties, citing New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s remarks acknowledging the transformation in India under Modi’s leadership.

“Just think what New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said. And the Congress party in India refuses to accept it. I think our Opposition should also learn something,” he said.

Patra highlighted various achievements of Modi’s three-nation tour of Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand and said, “The prime minister went on a (foreign) tour and Rahul Gandhi too. The prime minister returned having brought victory to the nation, while Rahul Gandhi is surely conspiring behind closed doors.”

Gandhi is likely “plotting” how to disrupt the good work being done under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, Patra charged further.

“You must be wondering where ‘Rahul Baba’ is. Go ahead, try to find out. A programme scheduled for him in Prayagraj on July 10 was postponed. There was an event in Patna as well; that too was postponed. There seem to be stamps on his passport from places like London, Iceland, and Germany, who knows? He is off on a tour,” the BJP MP added.