Ernakulam (Kerala): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made strong remarks against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning his suitability as a Prime Ministerial candidate. When asked about Rahul Gandhi's potential candidacy for the Prime Minister's position, Sarma responded, "Rahul Gandhi is the best candidate for Pappu."
Sarma went on to criticize the Congress party's election manifesto, suggesting that it was more aligned with the interests of Pakistan than India.
"Congress party has been prepared in a way that they can win an election in Pakistan. We have read the manifesto and after reading we concluded that this manifesto is more for Pakistan and less for India," Sarma said.
Challenging the Congress party, Sarma stated "The Congress party has made a manifesto that will snatch resources from the common people and they will destroy the economy of this country. So we have interpreted the Congress manifesto in the most right way and correct way and I will challenge them to come for a public debate to show that this manifesto is nothing but appeasement."
The Congress party released its 'Nyay Patr' (election manifesto) for the Lok Sabha 2024 on April 5.
On PM's speech, he said, "PM has said correctly. The resources of this country, everybody has the right. Doctor Manmohan Singh has said that the first right to the country's resources lies with the particular community. But my stand is my party and PM's stand is that the resource of this country lies with the Hindu, Muslim, Christian lies with the SC, ST, OBC...."
He urged Congress to explain their position, saying, "Now it's for the Congress to explain why they have said that the resources of the country have the first right to a particular community. It's the Congress party that should reply, not us."
Sarma's remarks came after Prime Minister Modi said that the Congress's manifesto talks about taking "the gold of mothers and sisters" and distributing that wealth. "Their Mangalsutra, the question is not of the cost of gold in it, it is linked to her dreams of her life. You are talking of snatching it in your manifesto...will distribute gold and redistribute. When it was their government, they had said that Muslims have the first right over the country's wealth. Who will you distribute after collecting the wealth, distribute it to those who have more children, and distribute it to infiltrators. Will the money of your hard labour be given to infiltrators, is this acceptable to you? Congress manifesto is saying that they will calculate the gold of mothers, and sisters and then redistribute the wealth to those whom the Manmohan Singh government had said that the first right to resources is of Muslims. Brothers, sisters, this thinking of urban Naxals, my mothers, sisters, they will not allow even your Mangalsutra to remain in your possession, they will go to this extent," PM Modi had said at a rally on April 21.
PM Modi was referring to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks made in December 2006 that the minorities, particularly Muslim minorities, should have first claim on the country's resources.
(ANI)