Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party while addressing a massive public rally in Surat, Gujarat. Defending the government's flagship Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative, the Prime Minister accused the Congress of mocking the country's aspirations and keeping India dependent on foreign nations for decades.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for development projects worth around ₹18,800 crore, PM Modi said there are “pessimists” in the country who continuously ridicule the idea of a self-reliant India and underestimate the nation’s capabilities.
“There are some pessimists in the country today who constantly mock the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ campaign. They consistently belittle this resolve of the nation. These are the people who have always kept India dependent on other nations; they forget that a country dependent on others can never attain the heights of development it truly deserves,” the Prime Minister said.
Without directly naming Rahul Gandhi initially, Modi’s remarks were widely seen as a response to criticism from the Congress leadership over the government's economic and industrial policies. He asserted that India's development journey is being driven by confidence, ambition, and the determination of its people.
The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of practicing politics based on instability and uncertainty. He claimed that for the past 12 years, the opposition party has sought political opportunities by spreading confusion and negativity, but has repeatedly been rejected by voters across the country.
“The people of Gujarat have pushed the Congress to the margins. Even in states where Congress governments exist, the public has grown weary of the party's misgovernance,” he said.
Citing recent local body election results, Modi pointed to Congress setbacks in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab as evidence of declining public support for the party. He said voters in these states had sent a strong message against what he described as Congress’s ineffective governance.
“The Congress's politics of seeking opportunities amidst chaos will not work,” he declared.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the challenging global environment and highlighted how India has navigated multiple crises in recent years. He noted that the world has witnessed a series of unprecedented disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, international conflicts, and a severe energy crisis.
“Some time ago, I had said that this decade is proving to be a decade of disasters for the world. We have witnessed one global disaster after another. First came the COVID-19 crisis, then wars erupted in different regions, and now an energy crisis has disrupted economies worldwide,” Modi said.
Referring to fluctuations in global fuel prices and disruptions in gas supply chains, he expressed satisfaction that India has managed these challenges effectively through the collective efforts of its citizens.
“It gives me great satisfaction that, through the collective efforts of 140 crore Indians, the country is facing every such crisis with strength,” he added.
PM Modi also took aim at the Congress government in Karnataka, claiming that growing public dissatisfaction had forced the party to change its Chief Minister. He said the political developments reflected broader public frustration with Congress administrations.
Emphasizing India’s aspirations, the Prime Minister said the country has moved beyond negativity and is now driven by optimism and determination.
“India is a nation defined by optimism and fuelled by extraordinary aspirations. Its citizens are filled with dreams and resolve, and the people are committed to transforming that resolve into reality. When the collective will of the nation is so determined, it can achieve any goal. Therein lies India's true strength,” he said.
Earlier in the day, PM Modi laid the foundation stone for a series of infrastructure and development projects worth approximately ₹18,800 crore in Surat, aimed at boosting connectivity, urban development, and economic growth in Gujarat. The projects are expected to generate employment opportunities and further strengthen the state's industrial and infrastructure landscape.
The Surat rally comes as political parties intensify their campaigns and sharpen their attacks ahead of upcoming electoral contests, with both the BJP and Congress seeking to shape the national political narrative through competing visions for India's future.
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