Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday attacked the Congress over the youth wing’s protest at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi a week ago and blamed it for farmers’ suffering, tarnishing the country’s reputation and weakening the army, as he launched a nationwide human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in Rajasthan’s Ajmer for girls aged between 14 years to fight cervical cancer.
He said that the party was called Indian National Congress but has now transformed into the Muslim League-Maoist Congress. “Just as the Muslim League hated India and divided it into two parts, the Congress is doing the same. They too are encroaching anywhere to defame us, just as the Maoists continue to attack common people out of hatred for this democracy.”
Modi noted that key leaders from across the world attended the AI summit and expressed their appreciation for India’s efforts. He said, “We all felt proud of this summit. But Congress, frustrated, depressed and tired of constant defeats, humiliated us in front of the world with its tragedy. They are avenging their losses by defaming this country in front of the world.”
About 15 members of the Indian Youth Congress entered the AI Impact Summit venue and removed their T-shirts bearing pictures of Modi and US President Donald Trump with the caption “PM at risk” and “India-US trade deal”. They raised their shirts and chanted slogans against Modi.
Modi described defaming the country and weakening the army as an “old habit” of the Congress Party. “This is the same Congress, under whose rule our armed forces were deprived of weapons and proper uniforms, and their families were deprived of a policy like first-class pension. India was known for corruption in its defense sector,” he said.
Modi said the BJP-led government has empowered the army in the past 11 years. “Our army is now capable enough to launch attacks on terrorists and our enemies. They have proven their bravery through surgical strikes to [the cross-border] Sindor process [against Pakistan in retaliation to the Pahalagam attack last year]Modi said.
He referred to the HPV vaccination program and said that the family would be well only when the woman remained healthy. Modi said the previous government considered facilities and women’s health unimportant. “Women were suffering due to lack of public toilets, and girls often dropped out of schools. Our government has always been sensitive about these issues,” he said.
The vaccination program will include one free dose of Gardasil, a quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which provides protection against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause cervical cancer, and types 6 and 11.
Modi blamed the Congress party for the suffering of farmers, saying they were always preoccupied with corruption and internal conflicts. Inaugurating the development work in Ajmer, Modi said: “In Rajasthan, a project like the East Rajasthan Canal project was stalled for decades. When the BJP government came to power, we resolved all the disputes and implemented them on the ground so that farmers get adequate water. Rajasthan is always our priority. We are moving towards a rapidly developing India.” $16,000 crores and 21,800 appointment letters were delivered.
Former Prime Minister Ashok Gehlot hit back at Modi over his attacks on Congress, saying it indicated his political desperation. “For those who belong to an ideology that has not sacrificed even a fingernail in the freedom struggle to level allegations of dividing the country against the Congress, a party with a glorious history of leading the freedom struggle, this is not only absurd but also evidence of moral bankruptcy,” he wrote on X.
He said that opposing Modi is not the same as opposing the country. “Don’t make the mistake of considering yourself greater than the nation. It’s sad that you only used an official government platform for narrow politics.” Gehlot said the public expects Modi to speak on issues of public concern.
