Smriti Irani has hit back at Congress, countering Rahul Gandhi's fiery speech in Lok Sabha as she said it was the first time the murder of Bharat Ma was spoken of and Congress clapped. This came after Rahul Gandhi said Bharat Ma was murdered in Manipur. She said this speech made it clear to all who was the traitor.
Lashing out at the Congress, she said, "You are not India, for India is not corrupt. India believes in merit not in dynasty and today of all the days people like you need to remember what was told to the British - Quit India. Corruption Quit India, Dynasty Quit India. Merit now finds place in India...," adding, "Bharat maa ki hatya ki baat karne wale kabhi bhi mez nahi thapthapate. Congressiyo ne baith kar maa ki hatya ke liye mez thapthapaai hai..."
Asserting the government's point on the issue, Irani said, "Manipur is an integral part of India. Khandit na tha, na hai aur na kabhi hoga," adding that the governmenyt did not run away from the discussion on Manipur. She said, "Parliamentary Affairs minsiter Pralhad Joshi, Union Home Minsiter Amit Shah & Defence Minsiter Rajnath Singh repeatedly said that the government is ready to debate on the Manipur issue. The opposition ran away from it, we did not..."
Doubling down on her scathing attack, she ripped into the Congress party on the issue of Kashmir. She said, "It was mentioned in the House today that he (Rahul Gandhi) undertook a Yatra and gave assurance that they will reinstate Article 370 if it is upto them... I would like to tell the person who has run away from the House that neither will Article 370 be reinstated in the country nor will those who threaten Kashmiri Pandits with 'Ralive, Tsaliv ya Galive' be spared."