New Delhi: Mr Modi said he doesn’t like making this point but was forced by Congress leaders who repeatedly accuse him of cornering credit. “Thus far and no further,” he said breaking into English, warning the Congress to stop this campaign.
Did the Congress government during 2004-14 ever recognise the work of the Vajpayee government, he asked and added that it did not acknowledge even the Rao government’s contributions.
Determined to give a point by point reply to Congress leader Choudhury’s speech which he gave while participating in the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on Monday, Mr Modi quoted a former minister in the Rajiv Gandhi-led Congress government, which brought a law to overrule the Supreme Court ruling on the Shah Bano case to placate Muslims, as saying recently that its leaders claimed that it was not the duty of their party to uplift Muslims and “if they want to lie in gutter let them be”.
His remarks drew sharp protests from the Congress, prompting Mr Modi to say that he will send them a YouTube link of the interview.
The Congress has missed many chances to empower Muslim women and has got one more opportunity, he said, in a reference to the triple talaq Bill.
Referring to Mr Chowdhury’s comments that Mr Modi cannot diminish the Congress’ “high” stature, he said it became so high that it lost connect with the country’s roots and that “the higher you become, the happier I will be”.
“So busy were they with delusions of soaring high that they forgot to remain rooted to the ground. So busy were they soaring that they thought anyone on the ground is lowly and dirty. We have no such desire to soar. We are happy grounded, rooted and with our people,” he said.
