Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday (22 October) attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who has been leading the opposition's street protests, saying that while the world is searching for a "new order", some people are dreaming of "disorder" in the country.
Speaking at the NDTV Summit in New Delhi, Modi, without naming Gandhi, took a dig at the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, describing him as a "failed product" Congress has been trying to launch over and over again.
Modi said India does not have as many rocket launches from Sriharikota in one year as Congress makes "failed" attempts to launch its leader.
"To save its family from the blot of failure, Congress is questioning India's achievements. The grapes are sour, and Congress is now trying to axe the vine itself. The family is now a burden on Congress," he added.
Modi said genuine civil movements are meant to improve the system, but they are ruined by Congress, which he said has become a political parasite influenced by "brain naxalites" who have paralysed its capacity for independent thought.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the opposition INDIA bloc have held separate protests on the streets of Delhi and other parts of India over the last fortnight seeking the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Though Gandhi has made statements condemning the arrest of CJP leaders, the two sides are holding separate street protests, shunning each other in what was seen as signs of divergences between them.
Modi alleged that due to Congress' attitude, the voices of the government's "honest" critics, who want the welfare of the country and democracy, are drowned out.
He said while the world is searching for a "new order", some people are dreaming of "disorder" in India.
"Some are bent on dragging India's reputation in the mud and go abroad to defame the country and plead for foreign intervention," Modi said.
The Indian prime minister said no one knows how long Congress will keep the country at stake to launch its "failed product".
He said it is seen in parliament how talented young opposition MPs want to debate and criticise the government.
"But Congress disrupts proceedings because it wants to keep only one person in the limelight, doing grave injustice to young opposition lawmakers," he said.