Ouch.
Recalling the two warring sides of the epic Mahabharat, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said the BJP, like the Kauravas, fought for power, while his party, on the lines of the Pandavas, battled for truth. Taking the ruling BJP on, Gandhi said the party sought to divert people's attention from issues such as unemployment and farm distress with "fancy events".
"Instead of acknowledging the challenges facing the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi diverts our attention from our problems. We are being told that our problems only exist in our imagination," he said. The BJP-RSS's goal was power, Gandhi stressed at the Congress party's plenary session here.
"Like the Kauravas, the BJP and RSS fight for power. Like the Pandavas, the Congress fights for truth," he said.
Gandhi held that his party spoke on behalf of the country.
"The BJP is the voice of an organisation, Congress is the voice of a nation," he said.
To this BJP Karnataka’s official Twitter handle asked: “If you really were the Pandavas, Krishna wouldn't have deserted you and come on our side.”
The tweet most probably refers to Congress veteran and former union minister SM Krishna, a major player in Karnataka joining the BJP in March 2017.
After nearly 50 years in Congress, the 84-year-old joined BJP saying: “I am humbled today that I am joining the party which was led by great leaders. I see great India emerging under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ably supported by the party President Amit Shah," Krishna told reporters after joining the saffron party at its headquarters.
Amit Shah had called his decision as timely saying: “Krishna is joining the party after witnessing change in the country since Modi became Prime Minister. Since then the party's acceptability across the country has gone up."
While quitting the Congress, Krishna, former External Affairs Minister, had said the party is in confusion whether it needed mass leaders or not, in clear indication of him being upset with the party. Krishna was Karnataka chief minister between 1999 and 2004. He has also served as the Maharashtra governor. He had returned to state politics after stepping down as External Affairs Minister in 2012.
Union HRD Minister and senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar attacked Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his speech at the party plenary session today, saying he should apologise for his party's misdeeds first and then attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"While accusing Modi government he forgets that Congress did worst of genocide of Sikhs, they brought censorship in media and are known for all kinds of corruption and scams. He should first apologise for all that," Javadekar said.
He was reacting to Gandhi's speech at the Congress party's plenary session here where he said that the ruling government was diverting people's attention from issues such as unemployment and farm distress with "fancy events".
The Congress president also said that the corrupt and powerful today "control conversation" in the country and the "name Modi symbolises the collusion between crony capitalists and the prime minister".
He compared the BJP with the Kauravas in the epic Mahabharata, saying that it fights for power while his party, on the lines of the Pandavas, battled for truth.
Reacting to Gandhi's remarks, Javadekar said, "He has insulted Hindu religion and people's faith. He has also insulted patriotism by criticing Vir Savarkar and also attacking judiciary. Nobody has accused PM personally but he has attempted to do so." The BJP leader also said that Gandhi's accusations against Amit Shah are part of a "conspiracy".
"They think patriotism is speaking false things but speaking loudly. Their philosophy is to speak and run," the minister said.
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 "SM Krishna and Rahul Gandhi")
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