Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday targeted the Congress at the NDTV World Summit, alleging that some leaders of the party were hoping to create disorder in India.
During his address, Modi questioned the Congress leadership and its political strategy, accusing the party of repeatedly trying to establish its leader politically while damaging the country's image in the process. He also took a dig at the opposition party by referring to rocket launches from Sriharikota.
Modi said the world was looking for a new order amid ongoing global challenges, while some people in India were dreaming of creating disorder. He said it was important to highlight India's growing international role and its achievements.
The prime minister alleged that some Congress leaders travelled abroad to criticise India and sought intervention by other countries in India's internal affairs. According to Modi, such political conduct could affect the country's international reputation.
Targeting the Congress leadership, Modi said the party made more attempts to launch its leader politically than the number of rockets launched from Sriharikota, India's major space launch centre, in a year.
He portrayed the Congress leadership as an unsuccessful political project and alleged that the party was responsible for its own electoral and organisational challenges. Instead of discussing its shortcomings, he said, the Congress questioned the country's achievements.
Modi also accused the party of targeting India's progress rather than addressing its political setbacks. His remarks were part of his continuing criticism of the Congress leadership.
Modi also questioned the Congress's leadership structure, alleging that one family wielded excessive influence within the party, leaving insufficient opportunities for other leaders to advance.
He claimed that several senior Congress leaders understood the party's current situation but were unable to express their disagreements publicly. The prime minister did not present independent evidence in support of this claim during his speech.
Modi raised the issue of parliamentary proceedings and the opposition's role, saying criticism of the government was necessary in a democracy and that the opposition had the right to highlight policy shortcomings.
However, he alleged that protests and disruptions by the Congress sometimes prevented other leaders, including those seeking to criticise the government, from expressing their views.
The prime minister said some young opposition MPs wanted to question government policies but were unable to make their voices heard effectively because of disruptions in Parliament. He accused the Congress of keeping opposition politics centred on a single leader.
During his address, Modi also criticised the Congress's ideology, alleging that its thinking was increasingly influenced by elements seeking to weaken the country's system. In this context, he used the term 'intellectual Naxals' and accused the Congress of preventing other political groups from advancing.
Modi said democratic movements were necessary to expose shortcomings in the government and demand improvements in the system. However, he argued that political opposition should not be conducted in a manner that damages the country's progress or institutions.
