'Rahul Gandhi Has Declared War On India': Smriti Irani On Congress' Attack

The Congress leader earlier called for a permanent solution to the ongoing farmers’ agitation while accusing the government of bullying and discrediting them. “The government must not think that the farmers are going back home. They are not going home, and my concern is that this situation is going to spread. We do not need this situation to spread... we need a conversation with farmers, and we need a solution,” said Gandhi.

Launching a frontal attack on Rahul Gandhi for his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government with regard to the farm laws, Union Minister and BJP leader Smriti Irani on Friday alleged the Congress leader has declared war on independence.

“Rahul Gandhi today declared war on the people of India. He said that if his political stand is not supported by the PM of our country, then cities will burn! I appeal to every Indian citizen to ensure that Rahul Gandhi's call for violence is met with sustained peace,” said Irani, who defeated Gandhi in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi parliamentary constituency in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

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“Rahul Gandhi announced that the country would see the January 26 riots replicated in every city and even into slums... For the first time in the history of India, a Congress leader asked for more violence instead of a call for peace," she added.

The Congress leader earlier called for a permanent solution to the ongoing farmers’ agitation while accusing Home Minister of being responsible for the violence that ensued in National Capital after Farmers' Tractor Rally on January 26. 

“The government must not think that the farmers are going back home. They are not going home, and my concern is that this situation is going to spread. We do not need this situation to spread... we need a conversation with farmers, and we need a solution,” said Gandhi.

“You are bullying... discrediting them... (when) the only solution is to put the laws in the wastepaper basket,” he added.

The Congress leader reiterated his earlier jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi while accusing him of “working for a few corporates”.

“What will he (the Prime Minister) say... I am telling the farmers 'don't give up an inch... we are with you',” he said.

The farmers, who have so far held 11 rounds of talks with the ruling dispensation, been mounting pressure on Prime Minister Modi-led regime to repeal the laws passed by Parliament in September last year.

The farmers’ protest took a violent turn on January 26 during the Tractor Rally. One protestor died while several others were injured during the rally in the national capital.