Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi during a public meeting for Lok Sabha elections, in Nandurbar, Maharashtra, Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Credit: PTI Photo
Mumbai/Nandurbar: Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Saturday said that he should learn something from Indira Gandhi who divided Pakistan into two countries instead of calling her anti-national.
“All what Modi ji speaks is ‘khokhli baatein’ (hollow talk) that does not carry any weight…if he had spoke of Rs 15 lakh in your account, it should have come in your account…he spoke of two crore jobs, where are they…and now they are speaking about changing the Constitution…,” Priyanka Gandhi said addressing a Congress election meeting in the Nandurbar district of Khandesh region of North Maharashtra.
She was speaking at the rally here to drum up support for Congress candidate Gowaal Padvi from the Nandurbar Lok Sabha seat in Maharashtra, a day after PM Modi addressed a public meeting in this tribal-dominated constituency.
“Their politics only runs for power ...politics of the country is for service but now it is all about politics,” said Priyanka Gandhi, the Congress general secretary and sister of Rahul Gandhi.
“Modi ji says that he is fighting for corruption alone…..Modi ji and alone. You (Modi) have the power and all the resources... All the leaders of the world are with you. How can you be alone? He comes during elections and starts crying like a child, saying that he was abused… have come courage, you are in public life… He should learn determination and bravery from Indira Gandhi. She was a ‘Durga-rupi-mahila’ who divided Pakistan into two… but when you call her anti national, what can you learn from her,” Priyanka Gandhi said amid thunderous applause.
“Indira ji gave you rights on jal, jangal and zameen…Indira ji used to visit the houses of adivasis… Show me one picture of Modi visiting the house of an adivasi to understand their problems,” she said.
“President Droupadi Murmu, who belongs to the adivasi community, was not allowed to inaugurate the new Parliament building complex or participate in the consecration ceremony of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. When it comes to actually giving respect, Modi ji backs out,” she alleged.
She went on to compare PM Modi with her brother and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. "What kind of leader do you want? The one who walks for 4,000 km and comes to you to understand your problems or a leader on whose kurta you will not find marks of dust and is scared to come near you. Do you want a leader who wipes your tears or the one who sheds crocodile tears on stage? Do you want a leader who is fearless and speaks the truth irrespective of the pressure or the one who lies throughout," she asked.
She also asked people if they want politics of principles, service and dedication or politics of power and self glory.
Invoking her family's old ties with Nandurbar, she said her grandmother and former PM Indira Gandhi always began her election campaigns from this place.
"She would preserve whatever you gave to her out of love. My mother learnt how to respect you from Indira Gandhi. Sonia Gandhi worked to safeguard your rights over water and forests," she said.
Indira Gandhi used to visit people's houses with bowed head to understand their problems, she said, adding that Rahul Gandhi went across the country to understand people's aspirations and feelings.
The Congress general secretary said it is the duty of political leaders to respect the culture and tradition of adivasis, she said, adding that the BJP does not have any respect for these things.
Describing PM Modi as the 'messiah' of billionaires and not of the poor, she accused him of lowering the dignity of the top post.
"It is time to see the reality and vote accordingly. Choose your government carefully, choose what kind of leader and government you want. If you make a wrong decision, no one can stop the direction in which the country is going," she told the gathering.
She said the foundation of Congress' politics is to walk on the path of truth and keeping in mind that people of India are supreme.
That foundation was laid down by Mahatma Gandhi and several leaders of the Congress have followed that principle, she said.
"Why do several BJP leaders speak of changing the Constitution. It is because they have been allowed by PM Modi," she claimed.
(With PTI inputs)