Modi praises opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, takes swipe at Cong

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was all praise for senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, but did not mince words when criticising the Grand Old Party for its leadership crisis and groupism over the letter controversy.

Also read: Congress proposes law to bar entry of all women to Sabarimala shrine

PM Modi was speaking at the Rajya Sabha in reply to the President’s budget session speech. Modi spoke of Azad’s decency and his recognition of the recent J&K local polls. Azad is the leader of the opposition in the Rajya Sabha.

“Ghulam Nabi ji speaks in a decent manner. I have never heard him use foul language. I respect him for it. We all have a lot to learn from him. He praised elections held in J&K… I believe your party will take it in the right spirit, and not make the mistake of doing the opposite by listening to suggestions of G-23,” said Modi, referring the term G-23 (Group of 23) in the Congress who wrote to party president Sonia Gandhi last August seeking drastic changes in the party organisation.

Azad was a signatory to the letter that became national news.

Also read: Congress ‘rebels’ more generous towards party fund than ‘high command’

The Prime Minister also spoke of Congress leader, Partap Singh Bajwa, but had no praise for him. “Bajwa saheb of Congress was speaking with such precision that for a moment I thought he will reach Emergency (period) shortly and speak on it. However, Bajwa saheb didn’t go that back in history. Congress disappoints this country a lot, you did that too,” he said.

Podcast: The Federal’s Data Editor Venkatraghavan Srinivasan speaks to All-India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader Krishna Prasad on PM Modi’s speech in RS:

Full View