Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday accused the Narendra Modi government of using the judiciary and Election Commission as "instruments to destroy the voice of the union of states". His fiery speech in Lok Sabha, however, drew sharp reaction from the ruling BJP which demanded an apology from the MP.
“The institutions of our country are being attacked and captured by one idea. The judiciary, the Election Commission, Pegasus... these are all instruments of destroying the voice of the union of states," Rahul said.
The Wayanad MP's name had appeared, along with several other opposition leaders and journalists, on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance, allegedly using Pegasus spyware.
Also read: 'There are two Indias—one for rich, another for poor': Rahul attacks Centre in Lok Sabha
The BJP attacked Rahul for his remarks in Lok Sabha and demanded an apology from him for questioning the vital institutions.
Law Minister Kiren Rijiju took to Twitter to say that not only as India's law minister but also as an ordinary citizen, "I condemn what Mr Rahul Gandhi has said about India's judiciary and EC".
"These are vital institutions of our democracy. Mr Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologise to the people, judiciary and EC," he wrote.
Speaking first from the Opposition side in Lok Sabha during the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Rahul said the speech to a joint sitting of Parliament didn't touch the central challenges facing the country and was a "list of bureaucratic ideas" instead of a strategic vision.
"There are now two distinct Indias, one India is for the extremely rich people - for those who have immense wealth, immense power, for those who don't need a job, those who don't need water connection,electricity connections, but for those who control the heartbeat of the country...the gap is widening between the two," he claimed.
Rahul further sought to remind the central government that India was a 'partnership, and not a kingdom'.
"Congress had removed the centralised vision of king in 1947. But now the idea of king has come back. Now there is a king, a Shahenshah, a ruler of rulers and master of masters,” he said.
In another swipe at the Modi government, the Congress leader accused it of having brought Pakistan and China together. "The single biggest strategic goal of India's foreign policy has been to keep Pakistan and China separate. What you have done is, you have brought them together,” he said.
Rahul also accused the BJP and the RSS of playing with the foundation of the country and ensuring that jobs were at a premium. Targeting the government over unemployment, Gandhi said that the presidential address made no mention of job losses.
