One family’ is stalling bills in ‘revenge: Modi

PM takes on Gandhis at Assam rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a direct attack on the Gandhi family here on Friday, lashing out at them for disrupting Parliament frequently and thus decelerating the pace of development. He alleged this was only to take “revenge” against him for having ousted them from power.

Mr Modi, without directly referring to the Gandhis by name, claimed that “one family” was “taking revenge” for its defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. “There is one family which is not ready to let this government function,” the PM said while addressing a huge public rally of tea garden workers in eastern Assam on Friday. He added: “There are other political parties in the Opposition. They are not with us, but they want Parliament to function.”

Pointing out that several bills of public importance that were passed by the Lok Sabha had been blocked in the Rajya Sabha, Mr Modi said: “In the past 60 years of Indian democracy, there have been Opposition (parties) in Parliament, but this is the first time one family is trying to settle scores (for) defeat by blocking the development of the nation.” And though he did not name the Gandhis, it was clear to everyone who he was referring to, and his speech drew repeated cheers.

Mr Modi virtually kicked off the BJP’s campaign for the coming Assam Assembly polls, calling on the people of the state to give the saffron party a chance. He said Assam needs a government that listens to poor people and the working class. “You will have to give a chance to the BJP for Sarbananda (Sarbanand Sonowal) in Assam,” the PM said.

Mr Modi also attacked successive governments in the state for having neglected the plight of its tea workers. “Assam’s identity in the global arena is by its tea. This identity has come due to the hard work and devotion of several generations of tea workers, but unfortunately they have got nothing in return,” said the PM, who added: “I also got a livelihood in my childhood by selling tea just because you produced tea.” Mr Modi, however, did not make any announcement on the tea workers’ long-pending demand for Scheduled Tribe status in Assam.