As senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday launched a polemic attack on Narendra Modi government over its questionable handling of the turbulent situation in Manipur, alleging the politics of the BJP has "harmed Bharat Mata" in the state, Gandhi's remarks in the Lok Sabha debate on the no-confidence motion, were expunged from House records on the orders of the Chair.
"In Manipur, they (BJP) have harmed Hindustan. Their politics has harmed Hindustan in Manipur," Gandhi alleged.
During his speech at the Lok Sabha, which created massive furore on Wednesday during the debate on the no-confidence motion for the second day, Gandhi also said that the members of the ruling party were "not protectors" of India.
Targeting PM Modi, Gandhi, who made come back to Lok Sabha two days ago after the restoration of his membership,said it was Ravana’s “arrogance” that killed him, not Lord Ram, resulting in the destruction of Lanka.
He said the BJP was squarely to blame for the fires that had been lit, reinforcing the Congress’s political narrative for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Parts of Gandhi's remarks expunged by Lok Sabha
Gandhi's speech on Wednesday largely revolved around the Centre's intention of sowing the seeds of division except little focus on some tales from his Bharat Jodo Yatra, mention of businessman Guatam Adani, few lines on Hindenburg’s report on the Adani Group in the beginning and towards the end.
Holding on to his “nafrat vs mohabbat” (hatred vs love) line of attack, Gandhi primarily spoke on Manipur ethnic clashes, and Nuh, the Haryana town rocked by communal violence.
“You are throwing kerosene across the country … Aapne Manipur mein kerosene pheki aur phir chingari laga di. Ab aap Haryana mein kar rahe ho (You poured kerosene in Manipur and then you lit it … Now you are doing it in Haryana). You are burning the entire country. You are… (word expunged) Bharat Mata across the country,” he said in a nearly 30-minute speech disrupted repeatedly by the treasury benches.
Barring some meandering and recollection of tales from his Bharat Jodo Yatra and mention of businessman Guatam Adani — short-seller Hindenburg’s report on the Adani Group had derailed the Budget session — in the beginning and towards the end, Gandhi was focused on targeting the government, accusing it of sowing the seeds of division.
“Bharat is a voice. Bharat is the voice of our people … voice from the heart … you have … (word expunged) that voice in Manipur, which means you have … (expunged) Bharat Mata in Manipur,” he said.
“Aap… (expunged) ho, aap desh bhakt nahin ho … Aap desh premi nahin ho, aap … (expunged) ho, aapne desh ki … (expunged) Manipur mein ki hai (You are … you are not patriots, you do not love the country, you are … you have… the country in Manipur),” he said, triggering an uproar in the BJP benches.
As BJP MPs including Union Ministers shouted in protest, Gandhi said, “You are not the saviours of Bharat Mata .. you are the … (expunged) of Bharat Mata … I am talking about the … (expunged) of my mother. I am talking with respect. You have … (expunged) my mother. One mother (pointing to Sonia Gandhi who was seated in the front row) of mine is sitting here, and you have… (expunged) the other in Manipur … every day, till you stop violence, you are… (expunged) my mother.”
“I went to Manipur some days ago. Your … (expunged) has not gone so far… I used the word Manipur… but the reality is there is no Manipur left. Manipur you have divided, broken Manipur in two parts,” he said.
The Indian Army, Gandhi said, can bring peace in Manipur in a day. “But you are not using the Indian Army because you want to … (expunged) Bharat Mata in Manipur. If Narendra Modi does not listen to the voice of India, then whose voice is he listening to … he listens to the voice of two people.”
BJP seeks apology from Gandhi
Holding Congress accountable for insurgency and other problems in the North-East, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday sought apology from Gandhi for his remarks.
Rijiju's intervention generated massive anger amongst yj Opposition MPs who ran towards the Speaker’s chair and questioned why the minister’s microphone was on.
The MPs iterated they were not allowed to even raise points of order on Tuesday when they raised objections to BJP leader Nishikant Dubey’s remarks during his speech.
They were asked by senior party leaders to return to their seats when the microphone was switched off.
Speaker Om Birla warned the MPs: “The behaviour you have done near my table – the House cannot be run like that. This cannot be accepted.”
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