Pune: Calling the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi ‘Immature’, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Saturday said that Congress will not be able to progress under the leadership of Raebareli MP. 

Rijiju added that by one cannot become a leader criticizing your own country on the foreign lands. 

“I respect him as he holds the constitutional post of leader of the opposition (in the Lok Sabha). However, from a political point of view, he demonstrates immaturity. The Congress has launched and relaunched him several times, but he still lacks maturity. One cannot become a leader by running down India abroad,” the Union minister said at a press conference. 

‘Priyanka Gandhi Made To Contest LS Polls As Congress Unsure About Rahul’

Union Minister said that it is highly likely that Congress is testing the waters by fielding Priyanka Gandhi Vadra from Wayanad to assess if she could be a viable alternative to Rahul Gandhi.

“With my experience in Parliament, I can say the Congress is unlikely to progress under his leadership.” “This is perhaps why Priyanka Gandhi is being made to contest polls, But one thing is clear. For the Congress, the (Gandhi) family comes first. For the BJP , nation comes first,” Rijiju claimed.

‘Congress Misled Dalits In LS Polls’

He further said that Congress got success in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls after misleading the Dalit community. 

“The Congress misled Dalits during the Lok Sabha polls but this fake narrative will not succeed in the assembly polls. The Congress repeatedly insulted Babasaheb Ambedkar and amended the Constitution drafted by him for their convenience,” he said.

Criticizing the Congress for its resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly to restore Article 370, which granted special status to the former state, Rijiju said that this provision had deprived citizens of reservations and other welfare benefits. He added that the Congress now seeks to reinstate this provision.