‘PM was tired today, soon he will be retired’: Congress targets PM Modi for his I-Day speech

Terming Prime Minister Narendra Modi's praise for the RSS in his Independence Day speech as a "desperate attempt to appease" the organisation in the run-up to his birthday, the Congress on Wednesday called it the "most troubling" element of the PM's speech.

The Congress, particularly its leader Rahul Gandhi, has been at loggerheads with the RSS as he often says that the Congress is fighting an ideological battle against the Sangh. The Congress views the RSS as fundamentally against the secular ethos of the country.

"The most troubling element of the PM’s speech today was his name-checking of the RSS from the ramparts of the Red Fort — a blatant breach of the spirit of a constitutional, secular republic," MP and senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said in a statement.

"It is nothing but a desperate attempt to appease the organisation in the run-up to his 75th birthday next month. Decisively weakened after the events of June 4th, 2024, he is now at their complete mercy and reliant on Mohan Bhagwat’s good offices for the extension of his tenure post-September," he said.

Ramesh said, "This politicisation of Independence Day for personal and organisational gain is deeply corrosive to our democratic ethos."

"The PM was tired today. Soon he will be retired," he added.

In June this year, a political row erupted over Bhagwat’s remarks suggesting leaders should retire at 75, which was interpreted by the Opposition leaders as a nudge for PM Modi to retire once he turned 75 on September 17 this year.

Meanwhile, the Congress also lambasted Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas under Hardeep Singh Puri for sharing a poster on Independence Day, featuring the images of Mahatma Gandhi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh alongside that of Veer Savarkar.

In the post, Savarkar’s photo was placed above the rest.

“No matter how hard you try, Mr. Modi, you can’t push Mahatma, Netaji & Bhagat Singh below Mafiveer. Don’t disgrace the martyrs who fought and died for freedom by glorifying those who begged the British with apology letters,” Congress chief whip in the Lok Sabha Manickam Tagore posted on X.

MP Tagore also targeted the PM for praising the RSS in his Red Fort speech.

“The RSS, founded in 1925, did not play a direct role in India’s Independence struggle. It stayed away from the Civil Disobedience Movement, Quit India Movement, and other mass protests against British rule. KB Hedgewar, its founder, had joined Congress protests before 1925. But after forming the RSS, the focus shifted to “cultural nationalism”— not confronting colonial power…” he said.

Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal also lashed out at the Ministry for sharing the poster on social media.

“Every Independence Day, the Modi-led BJP makes it a point to distort history and make heroes out of traitors. This Orwellian image, elevating a British mercy petitioner like Savarkar over Gandhi ji – the undisputed Mahatma who got us freedom, and completely eliminating Pandit Nehru and Sardar Patel ji, shows their contempt for our freedom fighters. What else can one except from those whose forefathers collaborated with the British to sow the seeds of division and hatred that haunts us to this very day?” Venugopal wrote on X.

Meanwhile, both LoPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge didn't show up at the Red Fort during the PM’s  address.

On Friday morning amid heavy drizzle, Kharge led the flag-hoisting ceremony at the Congress's new office Indira Bhawan. It was the first I-Day celebration for the Congress at its new office. Several senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi termed  the PM' s I-Day speech "same old" which the LoP said he has been rehearsing during his tenure, while claiming that he has no new idea now.

"Rs 1 Lakh Crore Jumla - Season 2! Even after 11 years, Modi ji's same old Jumlas, same memorized figures. Last year, Rs1 lakh crore to 1 crore internships promise - this year again Rs 1 lakh crore job scheme!," Gandhi said in a post on X.

He added, "What is the truth? On my question in Parliament, the government admitted - less than 10 thousand internships. The stipend is so low that 90% of the youth refused."

"Modi ji has no new idea left now. The youth will not get employment from this government, they will only get Jumlas," he added.