Silent on Manipur, PM takes on Oppn at BJP meet: ‘INDIA also in East India Company, Indian Mujahideen, PFI’

Modi said the Opposition was frustrated because its leaders had realised they would remain in Opposition even after next year’s general elections. “I have never seen such a directionless Opposition,” senior MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad quoted the PM as saying.

Modi asked the MPs not to get either disheartened or distracted by the Opposition protest. The PM, according to sources, said “their (Opposition) job is to oppose” and urged the party to focus on ensuring that the benefits of its governance reaches every corner of the country. Sources said there was no mention of Manipur in Modi’s speech.

The PM reminded his party’s MPs that almost all other countries had faith in the current Indian leadership and that is why countries such as the US and France were signing agreements with India. “Prime Minister said we have to work to see that India becomes the third-largest economy during the third term of the BJP,” said a source.

Following the PM’s remarks, several BJP leaders reiterated his point to draw distinction between the names “Bharat” and “India”. “It is the fashion of terrorists, Naxalites to add INDIA in front of their name, the Opposition is also taking support of the word INDIA to weaken India with the help of foreign forces,” tweeted BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

Will rebuild idea of India in Manipur: Rahul Gandhi

In response to the PM’s comments, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge tweeted, “We are talking about Manipur, the Prime Minister is calling ‘INDIA’ as ‘East India Company’ outside the House! Congress party has always been with ‘Mother India’ i.e. ‘Bharat Mata’. The slaves of the British were the political ancestors of the BJP. Prime Minister Modi, stop diverting the attention of the country with your rhetoric. Speak about Manipur in Parliament, don’t belittle the dignity of the post of Prime Minister by targeting India i.e. Bharat.”

Criticising the PM, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “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.”

The Congress’s official Twitter handle posted, “Modi ji, say whatever you want to say to us. We are INDIA. Manipur needs help and love. We will re-establish the ideology of INDIA in Manipur. We will wipe the tears from the eyes of every mother and child of Manipur. Will once again add the colour of love to Manipur, will teach them to love.”

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi told PTI outside Parliament, “It’s sad that the PM is comparing the name of our country ‘India’ with terror outfits.”