New Delhi: Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his Rajya Sabha speech, Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O'Brien on Wednesday said the former's "long Mann Ki Baat are hollow words about federalism".
Taking to X, the TMC leader wrote, "PM Narendra Modi delivers looong Mann Ki Baat (Rajya Sabha edition). His government has converted Parliament into a deep, dark chamber. No guarantees about employment, price rise, Manipur. Hollow words about federalism from a man who has blood on his hands for butchering federalism".
According to ANI, several other Oppositon leaders also reacted to the PM's speech in the Upper House. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi took a dig at the PM, calling him the "Biggest Nehru Fan."
"I have never seen a bigger fan of Jawaharlal Nehru than PM Modi. He speaks of Jawaharlal Nehru in all his speeches... It would have been better if he spoke on his work", ANI quoted Priyanka Chaturvedi as saying.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla also jumped the bandwagon to slam PM Modi's speech, claiming the entire speech revolved around the Congress. He also alleged that Mallikarjun Kharge was not given a chance to speak.
"The speech should have been that of a Prime Minister but this was a BJP leader's speech; an election speech...How will things be if the PM lies in the Parliament?", Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut remarked, as per ANI.
Congress MP K.C. Venugopal also dubbed the Prime Minister's speech as "very low level".
"He (PM) can attack Congress, we have no problem. But he has to attack with truth...Only 'jumlas'," he said.
PM Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesady. In his address, PM Modi talked about federalism. "I have always said that today the country needs competitive cooperative federalism. There should be healthy competition among our states so that they go ahead rapidly. We need to walk with a positive mindset. We will be able to develop the nation only through the development of the states, there can be no dispute about it. I assure you that if the state walks one step, it gives the strength (to the country) to walk two steps," he said, as per ANI.