Modi says inferiority complex of Oppn stalling House work

PM says govt cleaning up Congress’ 60-year mess; gives JNU, Rohith and Jat stir a miss

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress on Thursday, accusing the principal opposition party of disrupting Parliament because of an inferiority complex and jealousy. In a 70-minute speech in Lok Sabha laced with sarcasm and ridicule, Modi also targeted Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi indirectly, saying some people grow older but “don’t become mature”.

Modi’s attack on the opposition came a day after Gandhi launched a broadside against the PM’s style of functioning and mocking the new black money policy as a “fair and lovely yojana”.

The government and the opposition are engaged in a stand-off in Parliament and outside over a host of issues including the suicide by a Dalit scholar and the sedition row at the Jawaharlal Nehru University ( JNU). The opposition accuses the BJP-led government of curbing free speech and raking up nationalism to target ideologically opposite groups.

Modi, however, skipped the controversy over Rohith’s suicide, Rahul’s barbs against the government on its Pakistan policy and the Naga accord.

“Why ( is) the House is not being allowed t o run? Not because there is anger against the government but due to an inferiority complex,” Modi said in his reply to the motion of thanks to the President.

Modi mocked the main opposition party in a veiled reference to the party’s leadership.

“There are many promising and bright leaders even in the Opposition benches. If the House runs, they too will get chances to speak in the House. If they speak, they will earn praise and then, ‘ hamara kya hoga’ (what will happen to us)?” Modi said.

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