Rahul hits out at Modi & BJP in no-confidence debate — ‘You have murdered Bharat mata in Manipur’
New Delhi: The BJP’s politics has murdered “Bharat mata” in Manipur, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said Wednesday, accusing the Narendra Modi government of “not using the Army” to restore peace in the northeastern state.
He was participating in the debate on the no-confidence motion in the Lok Sabha.
“Lanka was not burnt down by Hanuman. It was burnt because of Ravan’s arrogance. You are pouring kerosene all over the country. You poured kerosene on Manipur and set it on fire,” he said. “Now, you’re trying to do the same in Haryana. You’re burning the entire country,” he added, referring to the communal violence in Nuh last week.
Rahul was the first speaker for the no-confidence motion Wednesday, Day 2 of the debate.
He was scheduled to speak on the motion — moved by the Congress to force a statement by the PM in Parliament on the Manipur situation, as the first speaker from the party Tuesday. His name was sent to the Speaker, but there was a last-minute change and Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi eventually started the debate.
This was Rahul’s first speech in Parliament since his disqualification was revoked Monday, after the Supreme Court ordered a stay on a Gujarat sessions court verdict convicting him in a defamation case.
“The BJP’s politics has murdered our country in Manipur. They have killed India in Manipur… You killed my mother in Manipur. One mother is sitting here (in Parliament) and you’ve murdered the other one in Manipur,” said Rahul, lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not visiting the state since ethnic clashes began on 3 May.
“India is one voice. It’s the voice of the people and their hearts. You murdered that voice in Manipur. Bharat mata ki hatya ki aapne Manipur mein. You’re deshdrohi, not deshbhakt (you are a traitor, not a patriot),” he added.
He said the Army could manage the violence in Manipur in a day, but the government “was not using the Army”.
“Our PM has not gone to Manipur because, for him, Manipur is not India. Manipur is not alive anymore. You (the government) have finished Manipur. You have divided Manipur in two parts,” said Rahul.
