Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai has made scathing remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that Modi’s reluctance to engage in a public debate with Rahul Gandhi indicates fear of imminent defeat in the upcoming polls.Selvaperunthagai highlighted Rahul Gandhi’s acceptance of a public debate invitation from two former Supreme Court judges and noted the lack of response from Prime Minister Modi. According to Selvaperunthagai, this silence confirms Modi’s apprehension and lack of courage to face Rahul Gandhi in a debate. He asserted that the victory of the INDIA bloc, led by Rahul Gandhi, was inevitable, leading Modi to shy away from the challenge.
The TNCC chief criticized Modi’s track record, claiming that Modi has avoided thoughtful debates throughout his ten-year tenure as Prime Minister and eleven-year tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister. Selvaperunthagai pointed out Modi’s absence from parliamentary debates and his reluctance to engage with the media, attributing these actions to a lack of courage to address tough questions.
Selvaperunthagai also condemned Modi’s repeated characterization of Rahul Gandhi as a ‘Prince,’ arguing that such labels are baseless given Rahul’s lineage as the grandson of Indira Gandhi, who abolished monarchy in India.
Additionally, Selvaperunthagai questioned the credibility of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, citing Shah’s past involvement in the Gujarat riots and his subsequent arrest by the Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT). He argued that Shah had no right to question Rahul Gandhi.
Expressing concern over predictions by political pundits and impartial psephology experts regarding Modi’s chances of returning to power, Selvaperunthagai highlighted issues such as unemployment, denial of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to farmers, the impact of demonetization, Covid-19 deaths, and the loss of livelihoods among the poor. He accused Modi and his party of resorting to communal division to secure victory in the elections.