PM Modi launches scathing attack on Congress, makes reference to Jawaharlal Nehru

Invalidating allegations of discriminating minorities in connection with a contentious citizenship act, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thusrday launched a witheringly scornful attack on the Congress, making references to Jawaharlal Nehru, partition, the 1975 Emergency and the 1984 anti Sikh riots.

"For someone's aspiration to become the Prime Minister of India, a line was drawn on the map and India was divided into two. After the partition, the way how Hindus, Sikhs and other minorities were persecuted is unimaginable," PM Modi said, replying to a debate on the President's speech.

"In 1950, Nehru-Liaquat Ali pact was signed, it said that minorities won't be discriminated against in Pakistan. A big secular person like Nehru, a big visionary; and everything to you, why did he not use all citizens and not minorities? There must have been some reason," he added.

The agreement between Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan PM Liaquat Ali was signed in the background of extensive migration of people belonging to minority communities between the two nations after partition.

Also Read: PM Modi on Rahul Gandhi danda remark: 'I will make myself danda-proof'

"Why did Nehru use minorities? He replied to this too, and I'd know you'd abandon him too, whenever the need arises. Nehru had written to Assam Chief Minister and I quote - 'You'd have to differentiate between Hindu refugees and Muslim migrants'. This is what Nehru wrote to Assam Chief Minister. Nehru in this parliament, in 1950, said that 'there is no doubt that the affected people who have come to settle in India deserve citizenship and if they law isn't suitable then it should be modified'. In 1953, in Lok Sabha, Nehru said 'in East Pakistan, authorities are pressurizing Hindus. There are documents and reports, all pitch for a law,” PM Modi said.

All these instances, was Nehru communal? I want to know? Did he discriminate between Hindus and Muslims? Did he want a Hindu nation," he asked.

"The PM is distracting people from real issues by talking about Jawaharlal Nehru, Pakistan and Bangladesh," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said.

Also Read: Amid protest over Ananthkumar Hegde's remarks, PM Modi takes swipe at Congress led opposition in parliament