'Rahul Gandhi lost his mind': Union Minister reacts to Congress leader's Parliament speech

In his 45-minute speech, Rahul Gandhi tore into the Narendra Modi government stating there are now two distinct Indias, one for the rich and the other for the poor.

"There are now two Indias – one for the poor and one for the rich. The chasm between these two Indias is increasing continuously," he said in the Parliament, during a debate on the presidential address.

In his response, Pralhad Joshi said: "Rahul Gandhi is confused... he said India is not a nation. He doesn't under the history of India. He has lost his mind."

Gandhi in his speech said India is described as a Union of States. "What does that means? It means that my brother from Tamil Nadu has the same right as my sister from Maharashtra, the same right as my brothers & sisters from UP, Bihar, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram & all states," he added.

Gandhi accused the ruling BJP of bringing back the idea of a "king of India" that was "smashed in 1947".

He also alleged that the judiciary, election commission and pegasus are instruments that are being used today for destroying the voice of the people of states.

Minutes after his speech, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju sought an apology from the former Congress President.

"Not only as India's Law Minister but also as an ordinary citizen, I condemn what Mr. Rahul Gandhi has said about India's judiciary and EC. These are vital institutions of our democracy. Mr. Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologise to the people, judiciary, and EC (sic)," he wrote.

"We know that Rahul Gandhi doesn't believe in democracy and he has no regard for Constitutional Authorities. We don't take his habitual senseless comments seriously but since he has abused Constitutional Authorities from the Parliament house, he must tender unconditional apology (sic)," he said in another post.

Expressing concern over the India-China border issue, Rahul Gandhi said: "I am very worried about my country standing where it's standing. You're putting this nation and its people at huge risk. You (the government) have brought China and Pakistan together. We have made huge strategic mistakes in Jammu and Kashmir."

"Ask yourself why you are not able to get a guest on Republic Day. India today is completely isolated and surrounded," Gandhi said.

To this, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded in a series of tweets.

"Rahul Gandhi alleged in Lok Sabha that it is this government which brought Pakistan and China together. Perhaps, some history lessons are in order: -In 1963, Pakistan illegally handed over the Shaksgam valley to China. -China built the Karakoram highway through PoK in the 1970s," Jaishankar wrote.

"In Lok Sabha, @RahulGandhi said we could not get a foreign guest for Republic Day. Those who live in India know we were in the midst of a corona wave. The 5 Central Asian Presidents, who were to come, did hold a virtual summit on Jan 27. Did Rahul Gandhi miss that as well?" he wrote in another tweet.