Rahul Gandhi asks in Parliament, "why is Modi always serious?" Check PM's reply

Rahul Gandhi's speech sparked a contentious atmosphere in the house as he criticised the BJP and RSS, alleging that they promote violence and misinformation in the name of Hinduism. He underscored that these organisations do not speak for the enti...

By ET Online | Updated: Jul 01, 2024, 06.19 PM IST

Big hits and misses from Rahul Gandhi's maiden speech as Lok Sabha LoP | Ft. Amit Shah & PM Modi

In a charged parliamentary session marked by fiery exchanges between the government and opposition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi intervened during Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's inaugural speech of the session. Gandhi, newly appointed as Leader of Opposition, launched a scathing critique targeting the BJP, RSS, and Prime Minister Modi himself at the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Rahul Gandhi accused the government led by the BJP of spreading fear and hate across the nation. He also criticised PM Modi on several issues and mentioned Modi always being serious. In response, Modi said, "Democracy and the Constitution have taught me that I need to take the Leader of Opposition seriously."

— ANI (@ANI)

The exchange underscored deep ideological divisions in the parliament, with Amit Shah, echoing Modi's sentiments, demanding an apology from Gandhi for his remarks. Gandhi, however, stood firm, reiterating his stance on the BJP's governance and its impact on India's socio-political fabric.

Key quotes from Rahul Gandhi's speech included assertions about being targeted under the direction of PM Modi, alleging intimidation and legal harassment.

"I was attacked on orders of PM Modi; there were 20 plus cases, a house was taken away, 55 hours of interrogation by ED," he said.

He also invoked the principles of courage in various religions, contrasting them with what he described as the BJP's politics of fear and division.

"Hinduism is not about spreading fear, hatred and falsehoods. If you look at Lord Shiva's image you would know that Hindus can never spread fear, hatred but BJP spreads fear, hatred 24X7," he said.

During a discussion on the Agniveer scheme for entry into the Armed Forces, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi remarked that a member of Agniveer who lost his life in a landmine blast was not recognized as a 'martyr,' implying that Agniveers were treated as disposable labourers. In response, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, "Rahul Gandhi should not try to mislead the House by making wrong statements. Financial assistance of Rs one crore is given to the family of the Agniveer who sacrifices his life while protecting our borders or during war."