Launching a scathing attack on the Congress’s “shirtless” protests at the recently concluded Asian Summit in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the party of turning a global event into an arena of “dirty and shameless politics” as its conduct “embarrassed” the country in front of foreign dignitaries.
Addressing a public meeting after inaugurating the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Meerut Metro route, Prime Minister Modi said, “Congress made India’s global event an arena for its dirty and shameless politics. At the venue, in front of foreign guests, Congress leaders reached by taking off their clothes. I ask the Congress people – everyone already knows that you are politically naked, then what was the need to take off the clothes? What the Congress leaders did there shows that How ideologically bankrupt and poor the country’s oldest party has become.”
He said that the AI Impact Summit was not a program of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), but a matter of national pride and the entire country condemns the conduct of the Congress.
PM Modi further said “Congress leaders hate Modi. They want to dig my grave, they have no hesitation in insulting my mother, they oppose BJP and also oppose NDA. Well, if it is necessary for their politics, we can understand and tolerate it. But Congress should have remembered that AI Global Summit was not a BJP event, nor was any BJP leader present there. It is a national event. It was a matter of national pride, made by the sweat of the people, yet Congress crossed all limits of decency.
Strongly criticizing the Congress protests, PM Modi accused some sections of the national media of “patronizing the Congress” and appealed to the national media to “do accurate reporting”.
He said “When we criticize such actions, please do not make headlines like ‘Modi attacks opposition’. Stop these tactics to save Congress. By calling it ‘Opposition’ you save Congress, while other opposition parties have to suffer. Congress is at fault, but others pay the price… Why are you protecting Congress?”.
He claimed that after this incident, Congress allies have separated from it. “Congress has become a burden on the country. I publicly thank these opposition allies for standing by the truth and the pride of the nation.”
The Prime Minister compared the “toxic politics” of the Congress and other parties with the development-oriented governance of the BJP. He gave the example of infrastructure development.
He further said, “Before 2014, metro services were limited to only 5 cities. But today, metro trains are running in more than 25 cities across the country. India has now become the third largest metro network in the world.” In Meerut, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated both NaMo Bharat Rapid Rail and Metro services from the same platform, calling it a first-of-its-kind initiative. He said, “For the first time in the country, NaMo Bharat and Metro Rail will run on the same station, on the same track. From the same platform, you can travel within the city and go directly to Delhi from the same station.”
This morning, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated India’s first NaMo Bharat Rail track and dedicated the Delhi-Meerut NaMo Bharat Corridor to the nation. Highlighting the consolidation in Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad and Meerut, he said the project will benefit thousands of people commuting to Delhi and reduce the need for rented accommodation in the capital.
Prime Minister Modi said that huge investment in expressways, freight corridors and the under-construction Jewar International Airport is creating jobs and attracting industries. Referring to the foundation stone of Uttar Pradesh’s first semiconductor factory, he said, “When Uttar Pradesh develops, only then will India develop.”
Referring again to the AI summit, the Prime Minister said it was the “world’s largest AI conference”, which was attended by representatives from over 80 countries and about 20 heads of state. He asked, “The entire country was filled with pride. But what did the Congress and its machinery do?”
Emphasizing on improving law and order in Uttar Pradesh under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, he said that the state has come out of the era of riots and crime and has become a hub of BrahMos production, mobile manufacturing, airports and tourism.
Prime Minister Modi said, “Today the world believes that India is the power that can provide solutions to the challenges of the 21st century.” He further said that developed countries are eager to make trade agreements with India because of their confidence in India’s youth power and governance.
The Prime Minister also traveled in the Meerut Metro and interacted with students and passengers, saying the project reflects ‘women power’ as many train operators and station staff are women.
He later congratulated the people of Uttar Pradesh on the launch of the services and said the BJP’s two-engine government will continue to work to make the state the country’s largest economy.
Also, hitting back at Prime Minister Modi’s comment on ‘topless’ Indian Youth Congress protests during the AL summit, Congress MP Imran Masood said the Prime Minister only targets his own people and does not have the courage to criticize US President Donald Trump.
He said, “The Prime Minister can only attack his own people. He does not have the courage to attack Trump. I don’t see anyone other than Rahul Gandhi who can face these people strongly. They (India’s coalition partners) become weak. Only Rahul Gandhi can face them.”
