‘Learn something from Indiraji who broke Pak into 2’: Priyanka Gandhi attacks PM Modi in Nandurbar

“…You (PM Modi) have power and all the resources. Your own people call you Vishwaguru. But when he comes to the stage during the elections, he starts crying like a baby. He says he is getting abused. Modiji, this is public life. Learn something from Indiraji who broke Pakistan into two parts. Learn bravery, determination and courage from her. But you cannot because you call that great martyr an anti-national,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi was addressing an election campaign rally at Nandurbar for Congress candidate Gowaal Padvi. This was her second rally in Maharashtra after the one in Latur.

Recalling her grandmother’s close connection with the people of Nandurbar – the Lok Sabha constituency with a majority Scheduled Tribe population goes to polls on May 13 – Gandhi said that she always kept the people of Nandurbar close to her heart.

Historically, Indira Gandhi always kickstarted her election campaign from Nandurbar, a Congress stronghold the party lost for the first time in 2014 after Independence. Priyanka Gandhi addressing a poll campaign rally was a first for any member of the Gandhi family in the last two general elections.

“What type of leader do you want? The one who walks for 4,000 km to understand your problems or someone who does not like a single stain on his clothes and fears mixing with you? Someone who fakes tears or the one who will wipe your tears? The one who will solve your problems or count his own? Do you want a fearless leader who speaks the truth despite being disqualified from Parliament or a leader who goes on lying?” Gandhi asked.

She launched a stinging attack against PM Modi from Nandurbar saying that not only did the PM’s words carry no weight and honour but he also had no courage to tell people about the government’s achievements in the last 10 years. She said that PM Modi comes to the podium alone and nobody comes near to him as even party leaders are afraid of him. “He never comes to meet people. Take out any photograph of Indira ji, she has come inside your houses…The greatest of the PMs (Indira) came to your house with bowed down head, to hear your problems and he has been the PM for 10 years and has never visited a single house of a tribal,” she said.

Referring to PM Modi’s public rally on Friday, Gandhi recalled his statement where he said that he is a worshipper of Shabri. “How can Lord Ram who honoured Shabri be compared to Modiji who kept quiet while hundreds of Shabris were being dishonoured,” she asked.

Gandhi alleged that the victims of sexual assault in UP’s Hathras and Unnao died but PM Modi and BJP chose to not punish the accused. She added that India’s women wrestlers kept on pleading for justice but the BJP gave a ticket to the son of the accused in this case. “How can Modiji and BJP even be compared to Lord Ram and Shabri? Modiji’s words are hollow, they carry no weight,” she quipped.

Attacking the BJP-led central government over the arrest of then lone tribal chief minister Hemant Soren, Gandhi said that the BJP and RSS are repeatedly attacking the tribal community and its pride. She also mentioned that President Droupadi Murmu, who is a tribal, was neither invited to inaugurate the new Parliament nor the Ram temple at Ayodhya. “They only speak about honouring tribals. But when it comes to honouring them in reality, they backtrack,” she said.