Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday launched a sharp attack on Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, questioning his role in Parliament and accusing him of repeatedly making remarks that, according to the Chief Minister, undermine India’s traditions, heritage and democratic institutions.
Addressing a gathering in Raebareli, Yogi referred to Rahul Gandhi’s recent remarks in Maharashtra, where the Congress leader had called upon women to break free from what he described as the shackles of the Manusmriti.
“Recently, I was reading a statement made by the Member of Parliament from Raebareli, Rahul Gandhi. He made a statement in Maharashtra urging women to break free from the shackles of the Manusmriti. Rahul ji, the country does not have high expectations of you merely as Rahul Gandhi; in fact, it has no expectations at all. The Chief Minister further accused Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting India’s traditions and heritage, while referring to his criticism of the government and the Congress’s political positions on issues concerning Lord Ram and Ayodhya. Yogi also targeted Rahul Gandhi over a recent controversy surrounding remarks allegedly made by a young woman at Jantar Mantar against Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
However, your role as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament entails accountability towards the country’s democracy,” Yogi said. He said the woman and her mother later withdrew the remarks and apologised. “You must have witnessed how, at Jantar Mantar, a daughter used abusive language against Prime Minister Modi, and later, both the daughter and her mother retracted those words and offered an apology,” he said. Yogi further said the country expected Rahul Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, to play a constructive role in Parliament but alleged that he had “squandered” the opportunity.
Yogi said Rahul Gandhi’s position as Leader of Opposition carries constitutional and democratic responsibilities and alleged that he had failed to fulfil them.
