“Speaking the language of urban Naxals…”: PM Modi Hits Back at Rahul Gandhi, Slams Congress for “Misleading” Youth

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while responding to the Motion of Thanks to President Droupadi Murmu’s Address in the Lok Sabha. In his speech, Modi accused some opposition leaders of using the "language of urban Naxals" and misleading the youth with unkept promises.

“It is unfortunate that today some people are speaking the language of urban Naxals openly, challenging the Indian state and declaring a fight against it. Those who speak this language neither understand the Constitution nor the unity of the nation,” Modi said, directing his comments at Gandhi and other opposition leaders.

The Prime Minister’s remarks were in response to a statement made by Rahul Gandhi on January 15, in which he had claimed, “The BJP and RSS have captured every single institution, and we are now fighting the BJP, the RSS, and the Indian State itself.” This statement led to an FIR being filed against Gandhi in Guwahati.

Modi also criticised Congress for its historical treatment of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, calling it an “injustice” that these regions had been deprived of their Constitutional rights for decades. “We live by the spirit of the Constitution, and that is why we make strong decisions. Our Constitution does not give the right to discriminate,” he said, defending his government’s actions in the region.

Accusing opposition parties of misleading the youth, Modi stated, “We have been working continuously by keeping the future of youth in mind. But there are a few parties that are deceiving the youth. They promise allowances at the time of elections but do not fulfill those promises. These parties are 'aapda' on the future of youth."

In a pointed reference to Rahul Gandhi’s earlier comment about finding the President’s address “boring,” Modi said, “Those who entertain themselves by getting photo sessions done in huts of the poor will find the talk about the poor in Parliament boring.” The remark was a subtle jibe at Gandhi, who had dismissed the President's speech as uninteresting.

Highlighting the BJP's accomplishments, the Prime Minister emphasised, “We did not give false slogans, but real development to people.” He contrasted the BJP’s record with Congress’s long-standing slogan of “Garibi Hatao,” claiming his government had successfully lifted 25 crore people out of poverty. “The one who has lived that kind of life knows what it means to have a house with a proper roof,” Modi added.

The Prime Minister also asserted that understanding the pain of the poor required “passion,” a quality that, in his view, some leaders simply lacked. Modi concluded his speech by thanking the people of India for giving him the opportunity to respond to the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha 14 times.