New Delhi, Nov 19 (NationPress) - In response to Congress's criticism of Shashi Tharoor for commending Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Ramnath Goenka Lecture, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla launched a counterattack. He claimed that Congress has become increasingly intolerant of dissenting views that diverge from its leadership. “The Indian National Congress no longer represents the 'Indian National Congress'; it has morphed into the 'Indira Nazi Congress,'” Poonawalla stated.

In an interview with IANS, he elaborated, “The INC behaves like Nazis. If Shashi Tharoor praises PM Modi, they issue a ‘fatwa.’ They react similarly to anyone who speaks the truth, whether it involves Tharoor’s admiration for the Army or exposing Rahul Gandhi’s lies. This is a clear example of intolerance. If they cannot maintain democracy within their own ranks, how can they expect to uphold it for the nation?”

Congress leader Supriya Shrinate dismissed Modi’s address, saying, “I did not find anything in the speech worth appreciating.” She made this remark regarding Tharoor’s favorable feedback about the Prime Minister's speech, which Tharoor characterized as a mix of “economic outlook and a cultural call to action, urging the nation to be restless for progress.”

On Tuesday, Tharoor praised Modi after attending the lecture, highlighting the PM's emphasis on significant topics and his call for India to be “restless for progress,” a viewpoint that contrasts with the party's general position.

Poonawalla also addressed the recent backlash against Rahul Gandhi from various judges, bureaucrats, and military veterans concerning his accusations of “vote theft.” He remarked, “Rahul Gandhi has turned the term LoP into 'Leader of the Propaganda.' He is undermining constitutional institutions with his repeated attacks on the Election Commission and other government bodies. His allegiance to Ambedkar’s Constitution is conditional; it seems to depend on electoral success or failure. This indicates a lack of respect for the Constitution.”

He continued, “Rahul Gandhi should cease his attacks on the Constitution. He is becoming a predator rather than a protector.”

A group of 272 prominent citizens, including former judges, ambassadors, retired bureaucrats, and military veterans, issued an open letter criticizing Congress and Rahul Gandhi for their persistent attacks on constitutional institutions, especially the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The letter voiced “grave concern” over Congress leaders “belittling and demeaning” democratic institutions such as the Armed Forces, Judiciary, Parliament, and now the ECI. They noted that the Leader of the Opposition and his Left allies resort to rhetoric to tarnish the ECI instead of filing formal complaints when they suspect irregularities.

“The LoP has consistently targeted the Election Commission, claiming to possess irrefutable evidence of its involvement in vote theft and alleging 100 percent proof of wrongdoing,” the letter stated.

“Using shockingly crude language, he has described his findings as an ‘atom bomb,’ threatening that when it detonates, the ECI will have nowhere to hide. He has vowed that he will not spare anyone in the Commission, from top to bottom, alleging that the ECI is engaging in treason.”