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Modi blames Congress for Partition, injustice to Sardar Patel, muzzling democracy

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8 years ago

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PM Narendra Modi

A veiled attack on Mahatma Gandhi without naming him, blaming Nehru for Partition and attributing much of what is wrong in the country to Congress rule marked Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s 90 minute speech in reply to the motion of thanks to President’s address in Parliament on Wednesday, January 7.

He later moved on make claims of achievements under his government terming them, typically, ‘unprecedented’.

Amid constant sloganeering by the opposition of ‘jhutha bhashan bandh karo’ and ‘jhuthe ashwasan bandh karo’ (stop telling lies in speech and stop giving false assurances), Modi started by saying that the President’s speech does not belong to any one party. The Presidential address should be respected and it should not be opposed just for the sake of opposition, he said.

In what was more of a ‘campaign speech’, as later alleged by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Modi began his speech by directly blaming the Nehru-Gandhi family for Partition.

“This is the same party that divided India. For decades, one party devoted all their energies in singing paeans to one family. The interests of the nation were over-looked just for the interests of one family,” he said.

“To this day, 125 crore Indians are paying the price for your sins, you divided India keeping elections in mind, you closed Parliament’s doors without heeding the people’s wishes, the seeds you sowed at that time, its ramifications are being felt to this day. Not a single day has passed when the country has not suffered due to poison sowed by you,” Modi alleged.

He accused the Congress for brainwashing people into thinking the Congress, especially Jawaharlal Nehru, brought democracy to India. He said that democracy “is in the blood of Indians” and cited the golden age of Lichchavi rule in eastern India and of Kannada social reformer Basava’s teachings.

“It is the country’s misfortune that Congress leaders feel ‘Bharat’ the country was born on August 15, 1947, as if there was no country before this. I’m shocked, do I call it ignorance, or lack of understanding, when it is said Nehru and the Congress gave India democracy,” he said.

Modi explained democracy to the Lok Sabha and informed it that democracy isn’t a preserve of the Congress – far from it, he said, the Congress has destroyed democracy.

Modi asked, “How did the Congress act in Kerala, how did they treat the Akali Dal in Punjab, how did they behave in Tamil Nadu? Why did Congress dismiss so many state governments at their will? This is no commitment to democracy.”

Referring to Karnataka Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge’s speech in Parliament, Modi said: “Kharge ji aren’t you from Karnataka, at least remember Basava. You should know him, he established the Anubhav Mandap in the 12th century. Everything he did was done democratically and women’s empowerment was his top priority, this was democracy in India in the 12th century. Have you forgotten that, Kharge ji?”

The reference to Karnataka was significant in view of the upcoming assembly polls in the state. Next was Andhra Pradesh, where the BJP ally TDP has been miffed with it after the Union Budget 2018.

Modi said the TDP was born due to humiliation of Andhra leaders like Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy by Congress. He alleged that former Congress PM Rajiv Gandhi insulted a Congress CM at Hyderabad airport and “stabbed in the back the party’s own Presidential choice” Reddy.

“NT Rama Rao’s Telugu Desam Party was born out of those insults to the people of Andhra Pradesh,” said Modi, using it to underscore his point about the Congress being undemocratic though claiming to have brought democracy to India.

“We cannot forget how the Congress insulted Shri Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, a proud son of Andhra Pradesh. They humiliated him. Nobody in India needs lessons on democracy from the Congress Party,” said Modi.

The PM also had words about what he said is the lack of democracy within the Congress party. He claimed that “out of 15 Congress committees, 12 had voted for Sardar Patel while three had rejected both”, yet Jawaharlal Nehru was made the Prime Minister, at the time of Independence.He also claimed India wouldn’t have lost what is now Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir if Patel has been made Prime Minister.

This was a veiled reference to Mahatma Gandhi, who had preferred Nehru for the post of prime minister since he was more acceptable and preferred leader for a secular India for which Kashmir had opted. Patel, who himself – along with most other leaders – was in agreement with this choice, was also old and passed away even before the first elections were held.

Having said that, the PM also went on to cite the Congress party’s recent internal elections as an example of what he claimed is the lack of democracy in the grand old party – a malady ailing almost every India political party, including the BJP where the leader going to be ‘elected’ as chief is decided by RSS and is known beforehand.

Modi said: “In December, did we witness an ‘election’ or a coronation for the post of Congress president? One youngster raised his voice about this as well, but he was ignored.” He was alluding to a minor revolt by one Shehzad Poonawalla.

The BJP is nothing like the Congress and the BJP-led NDA government is nothing like the previous Congress governments, the PM said, moving on to detail what he called his government’s achievements since assuming power in May 2014.

“The NDA Government has changed the work culture in the nation. Projects are not only thought about well but also executed in a timely manner,” said the PM.

He also claimed that his government is building more roads and a faster rate than the previous one – a claim that had been proved false earlier by some websites such as Alt News which did a fact check.

Further, he said, “Since Kharge Ji spoke about railways and Karnataka, let me tell the truth about the Bidar-Kalburgi rail line. The project was approved by the Vajpayee Government and from 2004 till 2013 nothing was done. It is when a government under BSY/BJP gave approvals work could begin,” referring to BJP leader and former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa (BSY).

He said that it was his government that got work done while Congress only laid foundation stones. He mentioned the example of the Barmer refinery to demonstrate his point. “The way people of Rajasthan were misled about the Barmer refinery was appalling. Just for votes, lies were said. It is in the last three years that the government of India and the Rajasthan government worked together to sort out the pending issues,” he claimed. Rajasthan has a BJP government currently.

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Rahul Gandhi attacks Centre ahead of Vladimir Putin’s India visit

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government discourages visiting foreign dignitaries from meeting Opposition leaders, calling it a sign of “insecurity,” hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi.

Published

1 day ago

on

December 4, 2025

By

Rahul Gandhi

As Russian President Vladimir Putin arrives in Delhi today for the India-Russia Annual Summit, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has renewed his charge that the Centre discourages visiting foreign leaders from meeting Opposition representatives. He called it a sign of “insecurity” within the government.

Rahul Gandhi alleges break in long-followed tradition

Speaking outside Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said that it has traditionally been the norm for visiting foreign leaders to meet the Leader of the Opposition, a practice he claims continued during the tenures of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh.

He alleged that the present government advises foreign dignitaries against such meetings. “When foreign leaders come, the government suggests they should not meet the Leader of the Opposition. This is their policy,” Gandhi said. He added that a meeting with the Opposition offers visiting leaders a broader perspective, as “we too represent India.”

Gandhi further stated that this approach reflects the government’s reluctance to allow engagement between the Opposition and foreign guests.

Former Foreign Secretary counters Gandhi’s remarks

Responding to Gandhi’s allegations, former Foreign Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Harsh Vardhan Shringla said visiting leaders operate on very tight schedules and there is no protocol mandating a meeting with the Leader of the Opposition. He stressed that such interactions depend entirely on the guest’s time and preference, noting that the required meetings are those with the President and the Prime Minister.

Putin’s schedule packed with bilateral engagements

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to land in Delhi this evening on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation. His itinerary includes:

  • A private dinner with PM Modi
  • Visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s memorial at Raj Ghat
  • Engagements at Bharat Mandapam and Hyderabad House
  • A banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu

The visit forms part of the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit.

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TMC MLA Humayun Kabir suspended after Babri Mosque replica proposal sparks row

TMC suspended MLA Humayun Kabir after he proposed building a Babri mosque replica in Murshidabad, a move that drew criticism from the party and sparked political tension.

Published

1 day ago

on

December 4, 2025

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Trinamool Congress on Thursday suspended MLA Humayun Kabir after he publicly announced plans to construct a replica of the Babri Masjid in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district. Party leaders said Kabir had earlier been cautioned for making such statements but continued to push ahead with the controversial proposal.

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said the MLA’s remarks were unacceptable, stressing that the party stood firmly by its secular stance. “We noticed that one of our MLAs suddenly declared he would build the Babri masjid. We had warned him before. As per the party’s decision, we are suspending him,” he said.

Kabir vows to continue project, may form new party

Kabir had planned to lay the foundation stone for the mosque replica in Beldanga on December 6. Sources indicated he is likely to resign from Trinamool on Friday and float a new party while continuing with the project.

The choice of date and nature of the project drew sharp criticism from the Trinamool leadership. Hakim alleged the move reflected a “divisional politics” strategy aligned with the BJP. “Why December 6? He could build a school or college. This is divisional politics,” he said.

Sources also said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was “hugely annoyed” by Kabir’s remarks and informed him that the party would not support or associate with such activities.

Governor raises concerns, administration on alert

West Bengal Governor Ananda Bose questioned why action was not being taken if the MLA’s statements risked creating a law-and-order issue. He said intelligence inputs suggested attempts to turn Murshidabad into a “hub of scandal,” adding that authorities would not remain silent if communal tensions were provoked.

Officials confirmed that while Kabir has permission to hold the December 6 event, the administration is maintaining a high-level alert in Murshidabad.

Minutes after his suspension, Kabir withdrew from Mamata Banerjee’s rally in the India–Bangladesh border district, where she was protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists.

BJP attacks Kabir over remarks

BJP spokesperson Pratul Shah Deo condemned Kabir’s comments, claiming they were intended to “create communal tensions.” He said any attempt to raise structures linked to historical rulers would trigger disputes similar to the Babri Masjid conflict.

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Karnataka Power Shift: What Siddaramaiah–DK Shivakumar compromise formula means

A closer look at the emerging ‘compromise formula’ between Karnataka’s top leaders Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, and how it may shape the state’s political future.

Published

6 days ago

on

November 29, 2025

By

A possible settlement between Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has emerged, signalling a calmer phase in the leadership tussle within the state Congress. While the final decision rests with the party leadership in Delhi, details of the so-called “compromise formula” are gradually becoming clearer.

Breakfast diplomacy calms tensions

After weeks of speculation over friction between the two top leaders, Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar met over breakfast today. The meeting, aimed at projecting unity, served as a symbolic reset after their strained ties over the chief ministership question.

Analysts believe the optics were crucial — the Congress successfully avoided a public showdown by diffusing tensions before they escalated further.

A transition of power likely, say analysts

According to political observers, the compromise indicates a strong possibility of Shivakumar taking over as Chief Minister in a smooth transition, potentially as early as March–April 2026.
For now, sources say the arrangement requires Shivakumar to continue as Deputy Chief Minister without pushing for immediate change.

In return, the formula reportedly includes more cabinet positions for leaders loyal to Shivakumar and continuation of his role as the state Congress chief. Siddaramaiah is also expected to back Shivakumar as the party’s face for the 2028 Assembly election.

Why the Congress prefers this route

Replacing Siddaramaiah abruptly would not only upset internal balance but could also weaken the party, given his stature and mass appeal. Shivakumar, despite his influence, does not have the numbers within the legislature to force a takeover, making compromise the most viable path.

Siddaramaiah has already stated that this will be his final term as Chief Minister. With his legacy secure and his position as one of Karnataka’s tallest leaders intact, he appears willing to enable a dignified transition when the time comes.

Variables that could shape the final outcome

The success of the formula depends on three key factors:

1. Trust between the two leaders

Whether Shivakumar believes Siddaramaiah will keep his word remains uncertain. Karnataka’s political history is full of last-minute shifts, giving rise to the phrase “natak in Karnataka”.

2. Decision-making by the Congress high command

Delhi’s leadership must ensure the transition happens on time and without internal resistance, especially in the run-up to the 2028 Assembly polls.

3. Caste equations and political alignment

Siddaramaiah is the strongest face of the AHINDA bloc, while Shivakumar represents the OBC Vokkaliga community. The Congress cannot afford to alienate either group, making the timing and execution of any transition extremely delicate.

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