CHANDIGARH: Raising questions over Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditating at the rock monument from May 30 to June 1, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Wednesday said it would be good if the prime minister goes to Kanyakumari for “prayashchit” (penance).
“What kind of ‘dhyan’ (meditation) will one undertake if he does not understand the meaning of ‘vivek’ (wisdom)?”
“If he aims to be a ‘prayashchit’ then that is good and if he is looking to take inspiration from the writings and speeches of Swami Vivekananda then that is also good,” Sibal said.
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders announced on Tuesday that the prime minister will meditate from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1 at Dhyan Mandapam, the spot where Vivekananda, a spiritual icon revered by Modi, is believed to have had a divine vision of “Bharat Mata”.
Sibal alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre does not talk about its achievements as it has “nothing to show”.
“What have they done in the last 10 years? Has the prime minister said in his speech what have they done in the last 10 years? What is their achievement?” Sibal told a press conference here.
Sibal also slammed PM Modi for his “mujra” remarks against opposition leaders, saying that if he had been able to achieve anything, he would not have said “Mujra, mangalsutra… vote for jihad”.
Sibal alleged that the BJP had “failed to fulfil” the promises it made when it came to power.
“That is why they are talking about ‘mujra’, ‘mangalsutra’, vote politics and vote jihad… They are saying that the Indian Union will take money from taps and banks…” he said.
Sibal said PM Modi used to give “grand speeches” before coming to power.
“He used to tell the people that if they give 60 years to the Congress and give him 60 months, they will get a ‘New India’. Now after 120 months (10 years), what is the ‘New India’ he has given?” he asked.
Sibal supported Manish Tewari, the Congress Party’s Lok Sabha candidate from the Chandigarh seat, saying, “Chandigarh is my home and I studied here. I hope that someone who understands how Congress runs, has a vision, understands the current politics and is deeply committed to the people will be elected.”
He said the public was facing several issues that needed to be addressed.
In some countries, spending on education is 9-12 per cent of GDP but in our country it is less than 4 per cent, the former Union Minister said.
He claimed that the unemployment rate for those aged 25 to 30 was 46 percent, while that for those aged 20 to 30 was 29 percent.
Voting for the Chandigarh seat will be held on June 1 in the seventh and final general elections.
Published May 29, 2024 11:07 IST
