NewDelhi: Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday took a fresh swipe at Rahul Gandhi, listing seven conditions that he claimed could help the Congress “win more MPs”. Rijiju said the Congress leader should spend more time in India, avoid meeting anti-India people and stop promoting their agenda.
Rijiju has repeatedly targeted Gandhi and other Congress leaders over their demand for an open debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In a post on X, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister mockingly listed seven conditions for the Congress to improve its electoral performance.
Among his suggestions, Rijiju asked Gandhi to “spend more time in India and avoid secret foreign vacations frequently.” He also advised him to respect senior leaders and learn from their experience, saying it was part of Indian tradition.
The BJP leader further asked Gandhi not to meet “anti-India people and stop promoting their agenda.”
Rijiju also urged the Congress leader to “end deep hatred against BJP, RSS and Modi Ji” and “treat BJP as political opponent, not enemy.”
His other conditions included taking “Parliament more seriously” and allowing MPs to participate in debates and discussions.
Listing his final two conditions, Rijiju said Gandhi should “Respect Constitution of India, and honour Constitutional Institutions, and allow Congress party to function as a democratic party and smash dynastic politics.”
Rijiju Targets Congress Over Parliament Walkout, Questions Its Demand For Debate
Earlier on Wednesday, Rijiju shared a video clip of his speech in Parliament, in which opposition MPs were seen walking out of the House.
“Parliament is the House for debates & discussion. But people who don’t believe in democracy, debates and discussion are talking about debate,” the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said.
His remarks came amid a fresh round of exchanges between the BJP and Congress over Rahul Gandhi’s demand for an open debate with the prime minister.
Gandhi on Wednesday once again challenged PM Modi to an open debate, claiming that he could prove within five minutes that the prime minister was a traitor. His remarks drew a sharp response from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Reacting to Gandhi’s challenge, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the prime minister should come forward and answer the questions being raised by the country over “vote theft”.
“PM Modi is parroting his flop line of Dimaagi Naxal’! He has NO answer on Vote Chori and the Open Challenge by Rahul Gandhi to discuss how he mortgaged Indian interests to Foreign powers!” Kharge said in a post on X.
Rijiju hit back at Kharge, explaining what he meant by the term ‘Dimaagi Naxal’.
“Kharge Ji, Dimaagi Naxal is a term not a narrative. Only following are Dimaagi Naxals: Who support Maoists agenda, and reject Indian Constitution. Who stand with the separatists & support Article 370. Who want to stop the development projects of India. Who conspire to cut chicken neck to separate North-East from India,” he wrote.
Rahul Gandhi’s Open Debate Challenge To PM Modi
On Tuesday, Gandhi had challenged PM Modi to an open debate over the prime minister’s allegation that the opposition was anti-national. He also questioned why Modi had not filed a defamation case against him over his allegations of foreign connections.
Gandhi further accused the prime minister of occupying the top post with foreign help.
His latest challenge came a day after he had called for an open debate with Modi over allegations that the opposition was taking foreign help to destabilise the country.
Bureau Report
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