Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Friday launched a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, comparing their style of governance to that of Delhi Sultanate ruler Muhammad bin Tughlaq and Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and accusing them of implementing Taliban-like practices.
"Modi ji conducts himself like Mohammad bin Tughlaq and Adityanath ji like Aurangzeb. So will there be a rule of law in this country or blatant hooliganism? A Uttar Pradesh police officer is shot in the head, for which, BJP people are being blamed, but not a single finger is being raised at him (Adityanath). Will there be this Taliban like situation in the country, or democracy?" the Congress spokesperson lashed out.
Addressing a press conference here, Surjewala expressed confidence in the Congress' victory in the assembly elections in the five states, results of which will be declared on December 11. While saying that the people of Telangana and Rajasthan, the two states that went to polls today, are eager for a change, he said, "A new dawn will arise when the results of all five elections will be declared on December 11".
Surjewala then mounted an assault on the Prime Minister, saying that the latter spared no efforts to "pollute the political discourse" accusing him of using foul and abusive language to demean his opponents.
"Prime Minister Modi ji's conduct has been shameful and condemnable. He needs to introspect and think about his behaviour and manners," Surjewala said.
Attacking the Prime Minister for attending Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas' reception, Surjewala said, "If you had some time after attending celebrity weddings, you should have consoled Subodh Kumar Singh's (Bundalshahr mob violence victim) wife. You should have spoken to the farmers that marched up to Delhi. You should have at least held a press conference to answer for your failures".
The Congress spokesperson said that Prime Minister Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, who said that the party responds to the public's questions through spokesperson Sambit Patra, have "disgraced the 1.3 billion people of the country".
"Is the Prime Minister not accountable, does he not believe in democracy? Is he not bound to answer to the media? Is he Mohammad bin Tughlaq or the Prime Minister of this country? Adityanath ji must respond, his institution is placing a reward on the head of Congress members, is there any democracy in this country, or has he become the biggest Aurangzeb?" Surjewala said.
In a reference to Chief Minister Adityanath's 'Dalit' remarks for Lord Hanuman, the Congress spokesperson said that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have always divided the nation with their caste and religion-based politics, they crossed the line when they dragged God into the debate during campaign rallies in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)