The Real Threat to the Nation Is Not Rahul Gandhi, but Modi’s Governance — Senior Congress Leader Gopaldada Tiwari

Pune, February 19: Senior Congress state spokesperson Gopaldada Tiwari strongly criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of evading accountability in Parliament by avoiding a reply to the President’s Address. Tiwari said Modi has become the first Prime Minister in India’s history to shirk such a constitutional responsibility.

He alleged that the ruling BJP–NDA government is attempting to conceal its own failures by levelling baseless and misleading accusations against the Leader of the Opposition. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Tiwari said, has made irresponsible and factually hollow statements that mislead the nation and undermine parliamentary dignity.

Tiwari pointed out that the BJP-led government has consistently failed to allow serious and transparent discussions in Parliament on several critical national issues, including demonetisation, the Pulwama and Pahalgam terror attacks, atrocities in Manipur, Operation Sindoor, foreign policy lapses, Chinese incursions, and the proposed US trade deal. “The ruling alliance has shown neither courage nor commitment to debate matters of national importance,” he said.

He further criticised the BJP leadership for avoiding press conferences for over 12 years, alleging that instead of answering public questions, it prefers to indulge in political rhetoric and attacks against opposition leaders.

Referring to recent electoral outcomes, Tiwari said, “Based on the people’s experience of ten years of Modi’s rule, the Congress has doubled its seats under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi, while the BJP has suffered a 33 percent reduction in its tally. Has Union Minister Kiren Rijiju conveniently forgotten this clear mandate?” he asked, posing a sarcastic yet pointed question.

Concluding his remarks, Tiwari asserted that a ruling party incapable of defending its so-called ‘national interest’ decisions through parliamentary debate poses a far greater danger to democracy than the opposition. “The threat to the nation is not Rahul Gandhi, but a speech-driven, accountability-averse government that refuses scrutiny,” he said, delivering a sharp rebuttal to Minister Rijiju’s allegations.