PM Modi attacked the Congress at the NDTV World Summit, accusing the party of damaging India’s global image and seeking foreign intervention. In a veiled reference to Rahul Gandhi, Modi defended India’s progress and reiterated his vision of Viksit Bharat.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a strong attack on the Congress, accusing the opposition party of damaging India’s international reputation, seeking foreign intervention and questioning the country’s achievements to protect its leadership from repeated political failures.
Addressing the NDTV World Summit, Modi said that while the world was searching for a new global order, India was looking towards a new era of development and opportunity. He asserted that despite growing international uncertainty, India’s image as a strong and confident nation was gaining recognition globally.
However, the Prime Minister alleged that certain political forces were attempting to undermine the country’s reputation for their own interests. Without directly naming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Modi made a veiled reference to him while criticising the party’s approach to politics and leadership.
“They go abroad to defame the country and even solicit foreign intervention. One wonders how long the Congress will continue to put the nation at stake just to launch its ‘failed product’,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister also mocked the Congress leadership’s repeated attempts to establish its leader politically, suggesting that the party had conducted more unsuccessful political “launches” in a single year than the number seen across the country.
Modi alleged that the Congress was questioning India’s achievements, strengths and progress in an effort to protect its own political family from the consequences of repeated failures. Referring to the party’s criticism, he remarked that “the grapes are truly sour.”
He further claimed that the leadership had become a burden on the Congress itself. According to Modi, even senior party members privately recognised the situation but remained silent rather than openly expressing their concerns.
The Prime Minister also argued that the Congress’s political approach was affecting the functioning of democracy by overshadowing constructive criticism and preventing other opposition leaders from effectively raising public issues.
“Genuine opponents who wish to raise issues through democratic means find their views stifled by the constant clamour created by the Congress,” he said.
Modi alleged that talented young parliamentarians belonging to other opposition parties were also being denied sufficient space to express their views because the Congress wanted to keep a single leader in the political spotlight.
In another criticism, the Prime Minister accused the Congress of coming under the influence of what he described as “ideological Naxals.” He alleged that individuals who had previously created unrest in forest areas were now influencing the party and working against the country’s interests.
According to Modi, this influence had weakened the Congress’s ability to think independently and develop its own political direction.
Moving beyond his criticism of the opposition, the Prime Minister highlighted what he described as the growing confidence and determination of the Indian people. He said the country was driven by a strong spirit of self-belief and the determination to overcome challenges.
Modi reiterated his government’s vision of “Viksit Bharat,” or Developed India, emphasising that the confidence and capabilities of India’s 1.4 billion citizens would play a central role in achieving the goal.
He said India would continue to innovate, address emerging challenges and pursue development while ensuring that its progress contributed positively to the wider world.
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The Prime Minister’s remarks at the NDTV World Summit highlighted the continuing political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress, particularly over India’s international image, leadership and development trajectory.
While Modi presented India’s growing global standing as evidence of national progress, his criticism of the Congress centred on allegations that the opposition was putting political interests ahead of national interests. His comments also renewed the political debate over Rahul Gandhi’s leadership and the Congress party’s role in national politics.
