New Delhi, Feb 9
The Congress on Thursday threatened to boycott Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the remaining part of the parliament Budget session if he didn't withdraw his "unacceptable" remarks against his predecessor Manmohan Singh that "only Doctor Sahab knows the art of bathing with raincoat on".
"We will boycott the Prime Mminister when he comes to the house. We will not listen to him. But, we will not assault the dignity of the office of the PM. At the same time, we will continue to protest," Anand Sharma, Deputy Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, told the media here.
Modi on Wednesday took the dig at Manmohan Singh, raking up the his speech during the winter session when he described the government's demonetisation move as a "monumental mismanagement" that might shave at least two per cent off India's economic growth rate.
Modi, alluding to Manmohan Singh's clean reputation while heading a "scam-riddled" UPA government, said in the Rajya Sabha, "There is a lot for us politicians to learn... Only Doctor Sahab knows the art of bathing wearing a raincoat."
The remark sparked ruckus in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, with Congress lawmakers staging a walkout during the Modi's speech and seeking apology from the Prime Minister.
"We know that he is an obdurate person. The PM is intolerant to criticism. He lives in denial. We have an arrogant person who occupies the chair of the PM. He has demeaned his office repeatedly by his choice of words and language," Sharma said.
"We have been urging the PM to desist from doing this. But he relishes using foul languages and insulting the Opposition. He has used language which is unacceptable in political debates. He has dragged the political debates to unacceptable depths."
Sitarganj (Uttarakhand), Feb 9
Taking on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his "bathing with raincoat" jibe, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi said the remarks directed at former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were an insult to the whole nation.
Addressing a rally here in the poll-bound state, Gandhi said Modi has a penchant for grabbing headlines and indulged in "laughter shows" inside and outside Parliament.
"Our Prime Minister Modi has this weakness of grabbing headlines. The day he isn't in the news, he doesn't get proper sleep. To get into headlines, be it inside Parliament or outside, he creates this laughter show of sorts," said Gandhi.
Modi on Wednesday said Manmohan Singh knew the "art of bathing wearing a raincoat", creating an uproar in Parliament with protests continuing on Thursday. Taking strong umbrage the Congress has demanded an apology from the Prime Minister.
"Modi is the first Prime Minister who can't speak with respect to his predecessors.
"Manmohan Singh worked as the Prime Minister for a decade. Modi's remarks are not a personal insult rather an insult to the entire nation because it was the people of this country who elected Manmohan Singh as their Prime Minister," said Gandhi.
The Congress leader also flayed Modi over demonetisation.
"Ninety four percent of the black money is in real estate, bullion and in foreign banks. Modi, instead chose to attack cash. The cash attacked is not of the rich corporates and business houses, but of the masses, farmers, daily wagers.
"In the name of fighting corruption he put the people in bank queues," added Gandhi.
