'Call us whatever you want, we are INDIA': Rahul Gandhi responds to PM Modi's attack on opposition front

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday responded to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stinging attack on opposition front 'INDIA'.


"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 tweeted.


Earlier today during the BJP parliamentary party meeting Prime Minister Modi derided the opposition alliance INDIA as the most directionless the country had ever seen, and cited reviled names such as East India Company and Indian Mujahideen to assert that people cannot be misled merely by the use of the country's name.

With opposition parties rallying around the name 'INDIA' for their alliance, the Prime Minister cited the history of several organisations, including some banned extremist and terror outfits using the country's name, and panned the grouping as a collection of corrupt leaders and parties.

Even the Indian National Congress, the main opposition party, was named so by an Englishman A O Hume, he said, according to sources.

Organisations which wanted to rule and break country, which wanted to divide it have used names like 'India' and 'Indian' to mislead people, the PM said and added "People have now matured and will not be misled by such nomenclature."

PM Modi was severe in his criticism of the opposition amid the continuing logjam in Parliament and also sounded confident of the ruling dispensation retaining power at the Centre for a third term after the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, sources who attended the meeting said.

"The opposition has sunk deep in despair and is directionless," PM said and added "its conduct suggests that it has reconciled to remain in opposition for a long time." according to Union minister Pralhad Joshi.

(With inputs from agencies)
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