Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has launched a scathing attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of lacking factual basis in his statements and maintaining silence on critical issues like student violence in Jharkhand. Pradhan's remarks came amidst ongoing parliamentary disruptions, for which he blamed the opposition party.
Congress Accused of Spreading Falsehoods
Speaking to media, Pradhan asserted that the Congress party is "continuously spreading lies" concerning student interests. He specifically targeted Rahul Gandhi, stating, "Rahul Gandhi lacks facts, and the Leader of Opposition, who habitually lies, neither wants to come to Parliament nor listen to answers. They just want to spread their lies and shed crocodile tears."
Pradhan's comments followed Gandhi's demand for Home Minister Amit Shah to issue a statement in Parliament regarding police action against protesters at Jantar Mantar. Pradhan dismissed these as "baseless, false accusations" against the Home Minister, emphasizing the government's readiness to discuss any issue within Parliament.
Silence on Jharkhand Violence Questioned
A key point of Pradhan's criticism was Rahul Gandhi's perceived silence on the "brutality against students in Jharkhand." He highlighted that while Gandhi holds press conferences on various issues, his quietness on this particular incident was conspicuous. Pradhan accused Congress of adopting a "selective" approach to democracy, alleging that the party resorts to violence where it is in power and employs "lies and commotion" to gain political attention elsewhere.
Parliamentary Disruptions and Changing Goalposts
Pradhan also echoed Union Minister JP Nadda's earlier criticisms regarding the Congress's role in disrupting Parliament. Nadda had accused Gandhi of deliberately causing disruptions and misleading the country. He cited instances where Gandhi allegedly shifted his demands; for example, after initially demanding a statement on the Jantar Mantar protest, Gandhi then reportedly changed his focus to an alleged embezzlement of Ram temple donations, even after the Home Minister agreed to address the initial demand.
Both Pradhan and Nadda urged Rahul Gandhi to actively participate in parliamentary discussions, stressing the government's willingness to debate all issues. Pradhan further accused Congress of operating with an "Emergency era" mindset, cautioning that there is no place for dictatorship in a democratic system.