The Congress hit back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday over his remarks targeting the opposition alliance, with Rahul Gandhi saying “call us whatever you want”, but “we are INDIA” and will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said while “we are talking about Manipur, which is burning”, the prime minister is “talking about East India (Company) and saying INDIA means East India (Company)”.

‘Stop diversion tactics’

“The slaves of the British were the political ancestors of the BJP. PM Modi, stop diverting the country’s attention with your rhetoric. Narendra Modiji, speak about Manipur in Parliament, do not belittle the dignity of the prime minister’s post by calling INDIA, that is Bharat, good or bad,” he said. Kharge urged Modi to speak on Manipur and said that is why “we have called for a debate under Rule 267, in which voting can also take place”. Earlier in the day, Modi said INDIA (Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) was the most directionless the country had ever seen. Citing reviled names such as East India Company and terror group Indian Mujahideen, he said people cannot be misled merely by the use of the country’s name.