New Delhi: Amid stalemate in Parliament over Manipur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi derided the Opposition’s new name INDIA Tuesday, saying that those who wanted to break the country or rule it had names like the “East India Company”, the “Indian Mujahideen” and the “Popular Front of India.”
Modi also called the new 28-party alliance INDIA — Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) — directionless.
Making the comments at the BJP Parliamentary party meeting Tuesday, the PM said mere naming does not work, according to a senior BJP leader.
The meeting was held in the backdrop of a stalemate in Parliament this Monsoon Session over the Opposition’s demand for a detailed discussion on Manipur under Rule 267 and a “comprehensive statement” by Modi himself.
The BJP leader further said that Modi likened the alliance’s name INDIA with the East India Company, the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the Indian Mujahideen. “He said these gimmicks don’t work and people know who are actually working for their welfare,” he added.
“The Britishers came and named themselves the East India Company… In the same manner, the Opposition is presenting itself with the name INDIA, but it won’t work,” the PM told his compatriots.
Another party leader said the PM not only called the Opposition directionless but said it appeared they had made up their minds to be in the opposition for a long time.
“This is their destiny and we, on the other hand, have to work for the people. We have one year to go before we complete our terms and we need to start preparing for the next elections and focus on our work,” said another BJP MP.
The Prime Minister also said the focus should be on “Amrit Kaal” wherein one prioritises one’s duty and focuses on making India a developed nation by 2047.
He asked parliamentarians to take part in the “Har Ghar Tiranga” campaign ahead of Independence day.
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad later told reporters, “We are proud of our PM. He has ignited a new hope and we are coming back to power in 2024. The people, the country and even the Opposition knows this. They have accepted this reality. PM Modi has given a statement that Indian National Congress was founded by a foreign national and East India Company was also founded by a foreign national. Today, the people are using names like Indian Mujahideen and Indian People’s Front. But something on face value can be different from something that is really true. The numbers for the Opposition are going to be even lower in these elections.”
Hours after Modi likened the INDIA name with banned outfits, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi hit back in a tweet, saying that INDIA would bring back “love and peace for all her people”.
Gandhi said in a tweet, “Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi. We are INDIA. We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people. We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur.”
Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi.
We are INDIA.
We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people.
We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur.
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 25, 2023
Incidentally, the Congress has claimed that the alliance’s name was suggested by Gandhi during the second meeting of the Opposition in Bengaluru earlier this month.
Manipur has been wracked by ethnic clashes since the first week of May among the hill-based Kuki tribes and the valley-based majority Meiteis over the latter’s demand for the Scheduled Tribe status.
The near-three-month destructive unrest has claimed nearly 150 lives, and displaced thousands, amid large-scale destruction of property.
The ongoing violence made screaming headlines last week when a video emerged showing two women being paraded naked, and pulled into a field where they were allegedly sexually abused.
Modi decried the crime outside Parliament but has so far held out on making a statement in the House, while the Opposition continues to disrupt proceedings in demand of a substantive and exhaustive debate on Manipur. They want in under Rule 267, which would mean that all other business would be suspended during the duration of the discussion.
Also read: Why won’t Modi axe Manipur CM Biren Singh? 4 reasons why he won’t & 5 reasons why he must