"Cut off from people, their needs": Congress' Priyanka Gandhi reacts to PM's Parliament address

"I think he is cut off from people and their needs. This is what was felt from his speech," the Wayanad MP said.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also hit out at PM's remarks, calling it an "election speech," keeping in mind the Delhi assembly election.

"You (PM) have already spoken repeatedly on dynasty politics, now you should be speaking regarding President's speech, and he should speak on the criticism made by opposition regarding it...he did not answer anything, it was an election speech, tomorrow it is Delhi election, he spoke keeping that in mind," Tharoor said.

Another Congress MP, Kiran Kumal Chamala, said that the speech was just for the PM to boost himself.

"In Narendra Modi's 90 minutes plus speech, he was just boosting of his own actions. He was talking about the figures which was a comparison from 2014 to 2025. He has to understand that the country has grown, the population has grown. So, every 10 years, things will change which naturally happens," Congress MP Chamala said.

"Trying to boost himself that this is because of his governance and his government. But frankly speaking, the 90 minutes plus speech was impractical. He was trying to only tell people of this country that he will be the PM forever, as if he is telling them that it is only third term and there are more terms to come across," he added.

Earlier today, PM Modi, in certain veiled and direct references in his speech, criticised the Gandhi family, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and former Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

Criticising the past Congress governments in a veiled reference, the PM said, "We had a PM, he wanted to be called Mr Clean, he understood the problem. He said if Rs1 leaves Delhi then only 15 paisa reaches the poor. Only one party ruled in states and the centre. This was a pure loot, a very big 'haath safai'."

Contrasting it with the efforts of the current government, he mentioned the initiative, "JAM Trinity," which links Jan Dhan accounts, Aadhar cards, and Mobile numbers to give direct benefit transfers to people.

Meanwhile, he hit out at Sonia Gandhi for her remarks on the President, "After the President's address, someone from a poor family, another woman could not respect the President. But she is being insulted by saying all sorts of things. I can understand political frustration but against the President? what is the reason?"

On January 31, Sonia Gandhi reacted to the President's address by saying "The President was getting very tired by the end...She could hardly speak, poor thing."

The Rashtrapati Bhavan clarified that the President Droupadi Murmu "not tired at any point", adding that President believes speaking up for the marginalized communities, for women and farmers can "never be tiring." (ANI)