Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of destroying protests that seek accountability and reforms. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, he said, "Congress does not allow others to get an opportunity." He further claimed the party acts like a parasite, blocking young leaders to protect its own family.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of undermining protests and movements seeking accountability and systemic reforms, saying such demonstrations were necessary in a democracy. His remarks come amid a series of protests in Delhi over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls, demands for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation and restrictions on the right to demonstrate.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Modi alleged that Congress was preventing young opposition leaders from getting opportunities and was undermining movements that sought to highlight the government's shortcomings.
"Movements that naturally seek to highlight the government's shortcomings and bring about reforms in the system are also necessary in a democracy. But Congress destroys these movements as well. It has become a parasite that does not want anyone else to move forward," he said.
He also accused the party of keeping only one person in the limelight and ignoring the voices of young opposition leaders.
"Congress does not allow others to get an opportunity. It wants to keep only one person in the limelight and does not listen to the voices of young leaders in the opposition," the prime minister said.
Modi also took a swipe at Congress over its attempts to promote its leadership, comparing them with rocket launches from Sriharikota.
"I don't know how long Congress will continue putting the country's interests at stake to launch its failed product. In a year, there are not as many launches from Sriharikota as the number of failed attempts Congress makes to launch its leader," he said.
The prime minister further accused Congress of putting India's reputation at stake to protect its leadership.
"Congress can continue on its path of decline; we have no problem with that. But to protect its family from repeated failures, it is putting the country's reputation on trial. The grapes are so sour that Congress is trying to cut down the very vine that bears them," Modi said.