New Delhi, May 31: The Congress and the BJP sparred over Rahul Gandhi’s “one such specimen” remark made in the US against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the ruling party slamming him as a “fake Gandhi” who “insults” India on foreign soil.
Addressing an event in Santa Clara in the US, Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Modi, describing him as a “specimen”, who could start explaining to God how the universe worked.
Leading the attack on Gandhi, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur claimed that the Congress goes abroad on “sponsored programmes” for “anti-India propaganda” to insult the country on foreign soil.
The Congress hit back, saying these are “made-up distractions” by Modi and his “drum beaters”. It also said the former party chief’s comments and beliefs have always been in the best interests of the country.
“Rather than being a mere event, the Bharat Jodo Yatra has become a transformational movement. It continues to resonate with millions of Indians here and around the world because it gave them a platform to raise their issues,” Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said on Twitter, tagging Gandhi’s tweet on his remarks in the US.
“The real issues hurting our people are unemployment, soaring price rise and the spread of anger and hatred – completely made-up distractions by the PM and his drum beaters will not change that,” he said.
Asked about the BJP’s criticism of Gandhi during a press conference at the AICC headquarters here, Congress MP Deepender Hooda said, the former party chief’s statements and beliefs have always been in the best interest of the country. “No person should think of being synonymous with the country,” he said.
Thakur further said Gandhi likened the alleged targeting of Muslims in India to what used to happen to Dalits in Uttar Pradesh in the 1980s but forgot to tell people that it was the Congress that was in power in the country and the state then.
In his address, the Congress leader also alleged that other minorities like Sikhs and Christians, besides Dalits and tribals, were also being targeted.
Slamming him for criticising the state of affairs in India under the Modi government, Thakur said it has become a habit of the Congress leader to insult the country as he does not consider India a nation. The BJP leader alleged that Gandhi had himself said so earlier.
“Who are the people behind such programmes and whose platforms are used for such anti-India campaigns? These questions had risen even during Gandhi’s last foreign visit and this time too, his visit has started by defaming India,” Thakur said. (PTI)
