PM Modi's chair shaking, he has started attacking his own friends: Congress

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi accusing him of even attacking his own "friends" since it is becoming clear that his chair is "shaking" after three phases of the Lok Sabha polls.

This shows the "real trend" of the result, said Kharge on Wednesday (May 8).

Kharge made these remarks after prime minister during an election rally in Telangana said the Congress should explain to people why it has stopped raising the "Ambani-Adani" issue as its "Shehzada" used to do for the past five years. Modi had wanted to know if Rahul had struck a "deal" with industrialists Ambani and Adani.

Friends are no longer friends

"The times are changing. Friends are no longer friends…! After the completion of three phases of elections, today the prime minister has started attacking his own friends. It is becoming clear that Modiji's chair is shaking. This is the real trend of the results," Kharge said in a post in Hindi on X.

At a poll rally in Telangana's Vemulavada, Modi said, "Ever since elections have been announced, these people (Congress) have stopped abusing Ambani-Adani. I want to ask from Telangana soil, let the Shehzada announce, how much has been lifted from Ambani-Adani. Has tempo loads of notes (currency) reached the Congress? What deal has been arrived at, that abusing Ambani-Adani has stopped overnight."

"Certainly something is fishy. For five years, (they) abused Adani-Ambani and it stopped overnight. It means you have received some tempo loads of 'chori ka maal' (loot). You have to answer the nation," the prime minister further said.

Pappa of Hum Do Hamare Do

After PM's attack, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said the tide of this election has turned so "violently" that the "Pappa" of "Hum Do Hamare Do" is turning on his own children.

"Defeat is a foregone conclusion. The prime minister is now spooked even by his own shadow," he said in a post on X and shared a picture of Modi along with his shadow.

The Congress leader said, "The man who collected Rs 8,200 crore of Electoral Bonds for his party - a scam so egregious that even the Supreme Court declared it unconstitutional - is today levelling allegations on others."

"Remember that through his 'Chaar Raaste', the prime minister has given contracts and licenses worth Rs 4 lakh crore to his cronies in return for their donations. If today, 21 Indian billionaires have as much wealth as 70 crore Indians, it is all thanks to the PM’s intentions and his policies. It also goes without saying that 'Hamare Do' are key figures in those 21," Ramesh claimed.

JPC to probe Modani scam

He said that since January 28, 2023, the Congress party has repeatedly demanded the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to investigate the "Modani scam".

"We reiterated this demand even after the elections began – on April 23, 2024, and just five days ago, on May 3, 2024. Since April 3, 2024, Rahul Gandhi has mentioned Adani 103 times and Ambani more than 30 times in his speeches.

"A JPC will be formed as soon as the India alliance comes to power on June 4, 2024, to investigate the Modani Scam - which has an estimated price tag of at least Rs. 2 lakh crores," the Congress leader said.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi said the prime minister knows that people now understand the reality that he has handed over all wealth to big businessmen and he is now clarifying after getting nervous.

Modi disturbed

Another party leader Pawan Khera said that PM Modi is disturbed after three phases of elections and realises that the ground is shaking. He claimed the prime minister has collected Rs 8,200 crore from his "friends" and when he was losing the polls, he has turned against them.

"When you cannot be theirs, how can you be ours or anyone else's in the country," he posed, adding the Congress does not fear anyone or anything.

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate said the prime minister is making serious allegations of corruption against the two big industrialists and asked when would a CBI, ED or Income Tax raid happen against them.

The Congress has been attacking the Modi government, accusing the prime minister of favouring the top five industrialists in the country, including Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. 

(With inputs from agencies)