Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the opposition alliance, referring to it as "directionless" during the weekly meeting of the BJP parliamentary party. He derided the newly formed alliance, INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance), citing names like "Indian Mujahideen" and "Popular Front of India" to question the significance of the chosen name.
BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad quoted PM Modi as saying, "They keep praising themselves for the name INDIA. Indian National Congress. East India company. Indian Mujahideen. Popular Front of India - these are also INDIA. Just using the name INDIA does not mean anything."
In response to PM Modi's criticism, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi swiftly hit back, defending the opposition front. He took to Twitter to assert, "Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi. We are INDIA. We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people. We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur."
The exchange between the two leaders comes in the aftermath of the opposition alliance's meeting in Bengaluru, where they discussed their strategy for the upcoming 2024 national election. As the political landscape intensifies, the clash of visions and ideologies continues to be at the forefront of the Indian political narrative.
The Prime Minister's remark and Mr Gandhi's counter came amid an impasse in Parliament over the unrest in Manipur, which has returned to spotlight after a horrifying video of two tribal women paraded naked shocked the country's imagination.
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