Mumbai,UPGRADED: Apr 29, 2023 16:25 IST
By Pankaj Upadhyay: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Saturday said just a handful of “dejected and demoralised” people speak ill versus Prime Minister Narendra Modi and even the PM does not look after this little group.
“These are a really handful of individuals who are dejected and demoralised and speak versus PM Modi. Even the PM doesn’t care for this small group,” Goyal said at the Indian Merchants’ Chamber ‘India Calling Conference’ in Mumbai.
The Union minister’s remark comes days after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge, during a poll campaign in Karnataka, likened PM Modi to a venomous snake, kickstarting a war of words between the BJP and the Congress.
READ | Why Kharge’s ‘poisonous snake’ jibe at PM Modi might come back to bite Congress
As a row erupted, Kharge later sought to clarify that his remarks were not aimed at the Prime Minister but at the ruling BJP. But the ruling party sharpened its attack, saying the Congress and its leaders have lost their mind.
Addressing the event, Piyush Goyal emphasised that the government’s focus has been on all-round development of the people and establishing a connection with them. He dismissed the critics, saying that they are a small group and the public does not look after them.
The Union minister was in Mumbai to announce the celebrations planned for the 100th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio broadcast Mann Ki Baat. Piyush Goyal praised the unique model of Mann Ki Baat and stated that the best part is that these episodes do not have actually any politics in them. He also called the upcoming episode a historic occasion.
