New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not consider Manipur a part of India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday.
He was addressing the Lok Sabha during the debate on the no-confidence motion against the BJP-led government.
The former Congress President began his speech by expressing gratitude for reinstating him as MP. Rahul Gandhi's membership was recently restored following a Supreme Court direction.
“Perhaps I caused you trouble when I spoke the last time because I focused on Adani,” he said.
He added, “But I spoke the truth. Today, my friends in BJP need not be scared because my speech today is not on Adani.”
"A few days back, I went to Manipur. Our Prime Minister has not visted the state to this day. For him, Manipur is not a part of India. The BJP has divided Manipur," Rahul said.
The Congress leader also spoke about the Bharat Jodo Yatra during his speech.
"I walked from one end of the country to another, from the coast to the snowy mountains of Kashmir. The yatra is still not over ... Many people asked me after it started, 'Rahul why did you walk, what is your aim'.
"I did not know why I wanted to walk but I soon understood the thing that I love and the thing for which I am willing to die and go to Modi ji's jail, the thing for which I bore abuse for 10 years, I wanted to understand," he said.
'Traitors not patriots'
"Manipur doesn't exist any more as the government has divided it into two parts. Government's politics has murdered India in Manipur. PM doesn't visit Manipur because India has been murdered there," Gandhi said.
"By killing people of Manipur, you are killers of Bharat Mata; you are traitors, not patriots."
"Lanka not set on fire by Lord Hanuman but by Ravan's arrogance, Ravan not killed by Ram but by his arrogance," he added.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju interjected during Rahul's speech and demanded an apology over Manipur remarks.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to the debate on Thursday. The numbers are comfortably stacked in favour of the government and the Opposition is expected to utilise the opportunity to demonstrate its newly firmed up unity to take on the Modi-led BJP in the Lok Sabha elections next year.
Gandhi returned to a rousing welcome in Parliament on Monday afternoon soon after the Lok Sabha revoked his disqualification as member after the Supreme Court stayed his conviction in a defamation case in which he was awarded a maximum two year sentence.
(With PTI inputs)
