NEW DELHI: Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju on Sunday took a dig at Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi saying she might not fully understand the “nuances” and “deep meaning” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s speech during the Constitution debate as she is “new” to Parliament. His remarks came in response to Priyanka Gandhi calling the PM’s speech “boring” on Saturday.
Rijiju said PM Modi presented facts, not opinions and suggested that Priyanka Gandhi’s inexperience in Parliament might limit her understanding of the Prime Minister’s statements.
“PM Modi has very eloquently explained that over the last 70 years and during the close to six decades of Congress rule, how provisions of the Constitution were diluted, amended and changed to suit the Congress interests, basically the family which is known as the first family of the Congress party … That is what the PM has said and it is something on which the PM has not given his opinion, he has stated the fact,” Rijiju told ANI.
“Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are from a family which cannot escape from history, how the Gandhi-Nehru family had compromised the provisions of the Constitution to suit their interests or for their political gain. So, I cannot make it much clearer than what the PM has already stated. I think Priyanka ji is a new MP, she may not understand the nuisances and deep meaning of what PM stated. But we are all MPs and we have to respect the PM of the country,” he added.
Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra had called PM Modi’s speech “absolutely boring” and lacking substance. “PM Narendra Modi did not say anything new or constructive. He absolutely bored me. I thought he would say something significant, but he spoke about 11 hollow promises. If he has zero tolerance towards corruption, he should at least hold a debate on Adani,” she told the media.
PM Modi’s speech, delivered during a two-day Lok Sabha discussion on 75 years of the Constitution, accused Congress of allegedly disrespecting the Constitution. He also outlined 11 pledges for the future, stressing duty and the need to eliminate dynastic politics.