"Why Not Use Nehru Surname?" In Parliament, PM's Latest Attack On Gandhis

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a new attack on the Gandhis, questioned why none of them used the name "Nehru" to honour Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. 

"If we miss out on mentioning Nehru anywhere, they (Congress) get upset. Nehru was such a great person, then why does none of them use the Nehru surname. What is the shame in using the Nehru name," PM Modi questioned in Rajya Sabha, replying to a debate on the President's speech.

Jawaharlal Nehru is the great-grandfather of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused PM Modi of crony capitalism in his speech in parliament on Tuesday amid allegations involving billionaire Gautam Adani's conglomerate. 

PM Modi spoke amid unrelenting "probe Adani" chants and booing by the opposition over allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud in a report by US-based short-seller Hindenburg Research.

In a searing attack on the Congress and its prime ministers, PM Modi accused the party of glossing over its own controversies while criticising his government.

"They say we keep troubling states, but they have toppled elected state governments 90 times. One Congress PM used Article 356 fifty times to dismiss elected state governments. That was Indira Gandhi," the Prime Minister said.

"This country is not the property of any family."

Speaking over the incessant slogan-shouting, PM Modi said, "the lotus (BJP's symbol) will bloom no matter how much mud you throw at us". 

Opposition members protested at the centre of the house, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation into the allegations linked to the Adani Group. 

"The conduct and tone of some members is disappointing for the entire country. I will tell such people - Jitna keechad uchhaloge, kamal utna hi khilega (the more mud you throw at us, the more the lotus will bloom). For helping the lotus bloom and flourish, we will thank the opposition," PM Modi said.