Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress in the Rajya Sabha, and targeted the party’s “Yuvraj” Rahul Gandhi for his “gaddaar” (traitor) remarks made against BJP MP Ravneet Singh Bittu.
The Prime Minister said the controversial remark by Rahul Gandhi exposed Congress’ “peak arrogance” and its “deep-rooted hatred” towards the Sikh community.
Ravneet Singh Bittu, a former Congress leader, had quit the party and joined the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Speaking during a debate in the Upper House, PM Modi referred to an incident wherein the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi called Ravneet Bittu a “traitor” outside the Parliament.
“What happened yesterday was that the Congress party’s ‘Yuvraj’ who has a ‘shaatir dimag’ called a member of this House a ‘gaddaar’ (traitor). This shows how far the party’s arrogance has reached its peak. Many people have left the Congress, the party has split several times, and many leaders have gone elsewhere, yet they were not called traitors. But this MP was called a traitor because he is a Sikh,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi said, “This is an insult to Sikhs, an insult to the Gurus, and an expression of the deep hatred that the Congress harbours towards Sikhs. They felt no remorse at all. They could have at least said once that what happened yesterday was not in keeping with the dignity of Parliament, they could have spoken even a single word. But because of the hatred they carry in their hearts towards Sikhs, they spoke the way they did.”
The Prime Minister questioned how a change in political ideology could lead to someone being branded anti-national.
“He (Bittu) belongs to a family that has made sacrifices for the nation, a family of bravehearts. Just because someone changed ideology and his political choices, he becomes a traitor? How can someone who calls my fellow countrymen traitors serve this nation. Such people will sink Congress,” said PM Modi.
The controversy follows a verbal exchange between Rahul Gandhi and Union Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu near the Makar Dwar of Parliament.
Gandhi reportedly said, “Here is a traitor walking right by. Look at the face,” and later added, “Hello, brother, my traitor friend. Don’t worry, you will come back.” Bittu refused to shake hands with Gandhi and responded by calling him “Desh ke dushman.”
PM Modi further expanded his criticism of the Congress, accusing the party of betraying farmers, delaying development projects and lacking the will to govern effectively.
“Congress’ working style has been to delay, obstruct, confuse. They only know the jeep and mule model,” he said, referring to outdated methods of functioning.
The Prime Minister said his government was working to undo the damage caused in earlier years.
“Our considerable energy is going into washing away the image of their era. They left the country in the same condition, and now we are moving forward on policy. The world is trusting India because today the country has boarded the Reform Express,” he told the House.
Widening his attack to other Opposition parties, PM Modi said that Congress, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the DMK and the Left had ruled for decades but failed to improve the lives of citizens.
“They only worked to fill their own pockets. Today they talk about deals with pride, but earlier the country remembered them for deals like Bofors,” he said.
The Prime Minister stressed that India’s real strength lies in its people and said, “We believe 140 crore Indians are 140 crore solutions. Congress thinks the people themselves are the problem. No matter how many challenges there are, we have the solutions within us.”