Rahul hits back at PM Modi for 'dirty and shameless politics' jibe at Congress
New Delhi (PTI): A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "dirty and shameless politics" attack on the Congress, Rahul Gandhi hit back at him on Monday, saying what is shameful is the names of the prime minister and one of his cabinet colleagues appearing in the Epstein files, "selling" India's interests under the Indo-US trade deal and the "handing over" of the country's data.
In a post on X, the Congress leader claimed that Modi is unable to sleep at night due to a court case against industrialist Gautam Adani in the United States and alleged that it is a case against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its financial architecture. The inaction on the matter for 14 months is shameful, he asserted.
Gandhi said whatever the prime minister may do, the Congress will not retreat even an inch and will continue to defend the country.
Coming down heavily on the Congress over its "shirtless" protest at the just-concluded India AI Impact Summit here, Modi alleged on Sunday that the opposition party turned an international event hosted by India into an arena for its "gandi aur nangi (dirty and shameless)" politics.
"Modiji, you are talking about shame? Let me tell you what shame is. Your name, your minister's and your friend's names appearing together in the Epstein files, being linked to such a vile criminal -- that is a matter of shame. The trade deal you have done with the US, in which you have sold out the country -- that is shameful.
"You have handed over our country's data. You have wiped out the farmers. You have ruined the textile industry -- that is shameful. The entire country knows that the ongoing case against Adani in the US has kept you awake at night -- because it is a case against the BJP and your financial architecture. For 14 months, no action has been taken on it -- that is shameful," the former Congress chief said in his post in Hindi.
"Modiji, you do whatever you deem appropriate for your friends Anil Ambani, Adani and yourself. I and the lion-hearted warriors of the Congress will continue to defend the country -- we will not retreat even an inch," he added.
In a video message along with his post, the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha claimed that there is fear in the prime minister's eyes and that is why he chose not to face the opposition in Parliament during the Budget session.
Gandhi claimed that it was not former Army chief M M Naravane's unpublished book but the Epstein files and the court case against Adani in the US that kept Modi away from Parliament.
He reiterated his allegations that Modi has "sold out" the country's interests under the India-US interim trade deal, in which he claimed New Delhi got nothing, and added that the name of a Union minister coming up in the Epstein files is a matter of shame.
He said it is shameful that the minister's name was mentioned in the files related to Jeffrey Epstein, who was a known paedophile.
"Modiji, continue to do what is right for your friends. But we protect the country, the farmers, the labourers, the country's small and medium industries and data, and we would continue to do that," Gandhi said in his video message, while calling on Congress workers to continue to protect the country, its farmers and labourers, and not step back even an inch.
Inaugurating the Namo Bharat train and the Meerut Metro Rail extension on Sunday, Modi said the Congress's conduct has shown how "ideologically-bankrupt and impoverished" the grand old party has become.
He accused the Congress of crossing all limits and said the conduct of the opposition party drew widespread criticism. However, instead of feeling ashamed, Congress leaders are glorifying those who insulted the country, the prime minister said.
Youth Congress workers staged a "shirtless" protest at Bharat Mandapam, the venue of the AI summit, on Friday.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
