Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticised the Congress Party over its "shirtless" protest at the global artificial intelligence summit in Delhi, accusing the party of turning an international event into a platform for its "gandi aur nangi" (dirty and shameless) politics.
Speaking to the public after inaugurating several development projects, including the Namo Bharat Rail and the Meerut Metro Rail extension in Meerut on Sunday, the Prime Minister stated that Congress' actions demonstrated how "ideologically bankrupt and impoverished" the party had become.
He remarked, "The Congress turned a global event for India into a stage for its dirty and naked politics. Congress leaders arrived at the venue in front of foreign guests, naked. I ask the Congress people, the country knows you are already naked, so why did you feel the need to strip further? What the Congress leaders did there shows just how ideologically bankrupt and impoverished the oldest party in the country has become... Congress is busy defaming its own nation."
The Prime Minister further alleged that Congress had "crossed all limits," with its actions receiving widespread criticism across the country. He also thanked several opposition parties for denouncing the incident, saying they had stood with "truth and national pride."
"While citizens are working tirelessly to make India a developed nation, some political parties cannot stomach the country's success," PM Modi stated.
He noted that representatives from over 80 countries and heads of state from around 20 nations had attended the summit in Delhi, which had made India proud.
"But what did Congress and its ecosystem do? They turned a global event for India into a stage for their 'gandi and nangi' (dirty and shameless) politics. Congress leaders arrived at the venue in front of foreign guests after taking off their clothes. I want to ask Congress leaders, the country already knows you are 'nange' (exposed), so why was there any need to strip further?" he questioned.
Prime Minister Modi continued saying that the actions of Congress leaders illustrated the state of the country's oldest political party. "What Congress leaders did there shows how ideologically bankrupt and impoverished the party has become," he said, adding that the party was engaged in defaming its own country.
His statement came just days after Youth Congress members held a protest inside New Delhi's Bharat Mandapam during the high-profile India-AI Impact Summit. The protestors raised slogans against Prime Minister Modi and the central government, criticising alleged "unemployment, inflation, and the reported India-US trade deal."
On Friday, a group of Indian Youth Congress workers staged a dramatic 'shirtless protest' at the AI Impact Summit exhibition hall, walking around holding T-shirts with slogans against the government and the India-US trade deal. They were later escorted away by security personnel.
( With Inputs from PTI )