English हिन्दी
Connect with us

Latest Politics News

Guj polls: War of words escalates, Modi says Rahul propagating Grand Stupid Thoughts

Published

8 years ago

on

Guj polls: War of words escalates, Modi says Rahul propagating Grand Stupid Thoughts

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, Patel Anamat Andolan Samiti leader Hardik Patel join Gujarat poll campaign trail

Civility in political discourse, especially during poll campaigns had never been the strong point of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose vociferous albeit vitriolic attacks against the Congress party’s first family, have earned him a position of pride among his followers and BJP sympathizers. As Modi rejoined the BJP’s poll campaign in his poll-bound home state of Gujarat on Wednesday, the Prime Minister made his familiar attacks against the Nehru-Gandhi family, reserving the most crude jibes for heir-apparent, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi.

Amid reports that his rallies across Gujarat have been attracting fewer than usual crowds, with empty seats becoming a hitherto unthinkable fixture at his public meetings, Modi has perhaps decided to return to the basics while appealing to his followers to once again bring the BJP to power in Gujarat – a state that the saffron party has ruled for 22 consecutive years.

On Wednesday, as Modi hit the campaign trail in Morbi, situated in the state’s Saurashtra region, he shed the baggage of civility that burdens the shoulders of a Prime Minister and took on his previous avatar – that of the shrill BJP campaigner and political street-fighter.

What else would explain the semantics that he employed to hit out at Rahul Gandhi when he claimed that the Nehru-Gandhi scion was propagating a “grand stupid thought” by suggesting that GST rate be capped at 18 per cent? Modi’s comment was an obvious riposte to the sarcastic dig that Rahul Gandhi has been taking at the Goods and Services Tax regime rolled out by the Centre earlier this year – calling it the “Gabbar Singh Tax” while referring to the many complications and confusions that common citizens have been facing in filing their tax returns over the past five months.

With Rahul campaigning across the state at the same time as him, Modi made it a point to hit out at the Nehru-Gandhi scion who, by December 5, is likely to take over as Congress president from his mother Sonia Gandhi. But the attacks against the Congress, India’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his family, weren’t missing for Modi’s speech.

Criticising Rahul’s visit to the state’s famous Somnath Temple earlier in the day, Modi said Jawaharlal Nehru had expressed displeasure over re-building the place of worship which in medieval times had been plundered and ransacked by Muslim invaders from Central Asia.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]The Prime Minister Narendra Modi credited the restoration and re-construction of Somnath Temple to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel – a Congress leader, country’s first home minister and a Gujarati who Modi and his BJP have been desperately trying to co-opt. “If there was no Sardar Patel, the temple in Somnath would never have been possible. Today, some people are remembering Somanth, I have to ask them: ‘Have you forgotten your history’? Your family members, our first prime minister, were not happy with the idea of a temple being built there,” Modi said during his election rally in Prachi.

During his rally in Morbi, where he attacked Rahul Gandhi for propagating a “grand stupid thought” – not exactly the language one expects from India’s Prime Minister – Modi sought to demolish Rahul’s ‘Gabbar Singh Tax’ swipe by saying: “Those who have looted people throughout their life, they can only remember dacoits.” Gabbar Singh was the name of the iconic villain from the Bollywood blockbuster “Sholay”.

Pandit Nehru’s daughter, Rahul’s grandmother and India’s first woman Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi was also not spared in Modi’s broadside.

“I remember when Indiraben had come here, Chitralekha (a local language magazine) had printed her photo with a handkerchief over her nose, trying to avoid the stench”, Modi told voters in Morbi – a town dominated by the Patidar community, a section of which has been revolting against the BJP under Hardik Patel’s leadership. Modi declared that for his party, it’s earlier avatar – the Jan Sangh – and the RSS “the street of Morbi are fragrant”. Some charm offensive![/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]Incidentally, Hardik Patel – the face of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti – was also in Morbi on Wednesday, campaigning among members of his Patidar community and urging them to vote against the BJP.

With voices of discontent coming from another crucial vote-bank in Gujarat – the OBC voters– against the BJP, Modi made sure to also reach out to the community while trying to paint the Congress as their villain.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][vc_column_text]“I want to assure you, Congress may try to put roadblocks… I am committed to ensure their designs fail. Parliament is meeting soon and we are going to bring that issue (Bill for constitutional status to the National Commission for Backward Castes) on the floor of the House again. We want to give our OBC communities their due,” Modi declared.

Narendra Modi is not known for being defensive during his poll campaigns – or even otherwise. But given the content of his speeches in poll-bound Gujarat, it is no surprise that his party colleague and senior MP Shatrughan Sinh feels that the BJP is showing “signs of panic and desperation” in Gujarat.[/vc_column_text][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

India News

Renaming MGNREGA removes core spirit of rural employment law, says Shashi Tharoor

Published

2 days ago

on

December 19, 2025

By

Shashi Tharoor

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has strongly criticised the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), saying the move strips the rural employment programme of its core essence. His remarks came after Parliament cleared the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, also referred to as the VB-G RAM G Bill.

Speaking to media, Tharoor said the decision to remove Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme “takes out the heart” of the rural employment programme that has been in place for years. He noted that the identity and philosophy associated with Mahatma Gandhi were central to the original law.

Tharoor also objected to the way the new name was framed, arguing that it unnecessarily combined multiple languages. He pointed out that the Constitution envisages the use of one language in legislation, while the Bill’s title mixes English and Hindi terms such as “Guarantee”, “Rozgar” and “Ajeevika”, along with the conjunction “and”.

‘Disrespect to both names’

The Congress leader said that inserting the word “Ram” while dropping Mahatma Gandhi’s name amounted to disrespecting both. Referring to Mahatma Gandhi’s ideas, Tharoor said that for Gandhi, the concepts of Gram Swaraj and Ram Rajya were inseparable, and removing his name from a rural employment law went against that vision.

He added that the name of Lord Ram could be used in many contexts, but questioned the rationale behind excluding Mahatma Gandhi from a programme closely linked to his philosophy of village self-rule.

Protests over passage of the Bill

The VB-G RAM G Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on December 18 and cleared by the Rajya Sabha in the early hours of December 19 amid protests from Opposition members. Several MPs opposed the manner in which the legislation was pushed through, with scenes of sloganeering and tearing of papers in the House.

Outside Parliament, members of the Trinamool Congress staged a sit-in protest near Samvidhan Sadan against the passage of the Bill. Congress also announced nationwide protests earlier this week, accusing the government of weakening rights-based welfare schemes.

Despite opposition criticism, the government has maintained that the new law will strengthen rural employment and livelihood security. The Bill raises the guaranteed employment from 100 days to 125 days per rural household and outlines a 60:40 cost-sharing formula between the Centre and states, with a higher central share for northeastern, Himalayan states and certain Union Territories.

Continue Reading

India News

Rahul Gandhi attacks G RAM G bill, says move against villages and states

Rahul Gandhi has criticised the G RAM G bill cleared by Parliament, alleging it dilutes the rights-based structure of MGNREGA and centralises control over rural employment.

Published

2 days ago

on

December 19, 2025

By

Rahul Gandhi

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi has launched a sharp attack on the Modi government after Parliament cleared the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, commonly referred to as the ‘G RAM G’ bill. He described the proposed law as “anti-state” and “anti-village”, arguing that it weakens the core spirit of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).

The new legislation, which is positioned as an updated version of MGNREGA, was passed amid protests by opposition parties and is expected to replace the existing scheme once it receives presidential assent.

‘Bulldozed without scrutiny’, says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi criticised the manner in which the bill was cleared, saying it was pushed through Parliament without adequate debate or examination. He pointed out that the opposition’s demand to refer the bill to a standing committee was rejected.

According to him, any law that fundamentally alters the rural employment framework and affects crores of workers should undergo detailed scrutiny, expert consultation and public hearings before approval.

Claim of dilution of rights-based guarantee

Targeting the central government, the Congress leader said the proposed law dismantles the rights-based and demand-driven nature of MGNREGA and replaces it with a rationed system controlled from Delhi. He argued that this shift undermines the autonomy of states and villages.

Rahul Gandhi alleged that the intent behind the move is to centralise power and weaken labour, particularly impacting rural communities such as Dalits, OBCs and Adivasis.

Defence of MGNREGA’s impact

Highlighting the role of MGNREGA, Gandhi said the scheme provided rural workers with bargaining power, reduced distress migration and improved wages and working conditions, while also contributing to rural infrastructure development.

He also recalled the role of MGNREGA during the Covid period, stating that it prevented crores of people from slipping into hunger and debt. According to him, any rationing of a jobs programme first affects women, landless workers and the poorest communities.

Opposition to name change and provisions

The Congress has also objected to the renaming of the scheme, accusing the government of attempting to erase the legacy associated with Mahatma Gandhi. Opposition MPs staged a dharna within the Parliament complex, questioning provisions of the bill that they claim dilute the “soul and spirit” of the original law enacted in 2005.

Under MGNREGA, the government guaranteed 100 days of work in rural areas along with an unemployment allowance if work was not provided. The ‘G RAM G’ bill proposes to raise the guaranteed workdays to 125, while retaining other provisions. However, critics have flagged concerns over employment being linked to pre-approved plans.

The bill was cleared after a midnight voice vote in the Rajya Sabha, following its passage in the Lok Sabha amid protests and walkouts. It will become law once approved by the President.

Continue Reading

India News

AAP dominates Punjab zila parishad polls, leads in most panchayat samiti zones

AAP has won 201 out of 317 declared zila parishad zones in Punjab so far and is leading in a majority of panchayat samiti seats, with counting still underway.

Published

3 days ago

on

December 18, 2025

By

Punjab Zila Parishad Polls

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has recorded a strong performance in the Punjab zila parishad elections and is leading in the majority of panchayat samiti zones, as per results declared so far on Thursday. The counting process is still underway and complete results are awaited, officials said.

Polling for the rural local bodies was held on December 14 to elect representatives across 347 zones of 22 zila parishads and 2,838 zones of 153 panchayat samitis in the state.

AAP secures clear edge in zila parishads

According to the available results, outcomes have been declared for 317 zila parishad zones so far. Of these, the AAP has won 201 zones, placing it well ahead of other parties.

The Congress emerged second with victories in 60 zones, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) with 39 zones. The BJP won four zones, the BSP secured three, while independents claimed 10 zones.

District-wise data shows that the AAP won 22 zones in Hoshiarpur, 19 each in Amritsar and Patiala, 17 each in Tarn Taran and Gurdaspur, and 15 zones in Sangrur. The Congress registered its best performances in Gurdaspur and Ludhiana with eight zones each, followed by Jalandhar with seven zones. The SAD performed strongly in Bathinda with 13 zones, while the BJP managed to win four zones in Pathankot.

AAP leads in panchayat samiti results

In the panchayat samiti elections, trends declared so far indicate that the AAP is leading in a majority of zones. However, officials clarified that counting is ongoing and the final picture will be clear only after all ballot papers are tallied.

Kejriwal, Mann reject opposition allegations

Reacting to the trends, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal said the party’s performance reflected strong rural support for the Bhagwant Mann government’s work. Addressing the media in Mohali along with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Kejriwal dismissed allegations of irregularities raised by opposition parties.

He said the elections were conducted in a fair and free manner and claimed that the results so far showed a clear wave in favour of the AAP in rural Punjab. Kejriwal stated that nearly 70 per cent of the zila parishad and panchayat samiti seats had gone in favour of the party.

Congress, SAD question poll conduct

The Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, however, accused the ruling party of misusing official machinery. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring alleged that the AAP had “stolen” the rural mandate and claimed that the results did not reflect genuine public support.

Opposition parties had earlier also accused the AAP government of high-handedness during the polling process, allegations that the ruling party has strongly denied.

Continue Reading

Trending

© Copyright 2022 APNLIVE.com