Modiji, step on accelerator, or people will throw you out, says Rahul

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the National Democratic Alliance’s loss in Bihar, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said that the PM should ‘step on the accelerator or people will throw him out of the driver’s seat’ even as he hailed the defeat of the ‘divisive agenda of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh in the assembly polls.

Gandhi, however, steered clear of questions on whether, like it had done in Bihar, Congress would enter into alliances in other states headed for elections.

He also declined to comment on whether his party would participate in the new government under Nitish Kumar.

“Since Modiji has become prime minister, there have been only promises. Start the work. One year has passed and your car is not starting. Press the accelerator. If you fail to press the accelerator, like Bihar, the people of the country will open the door and throw you out (of the driver’s seat),” a beaming Gandhi told reporters at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi as party workers celebrated the verdict.

Gandhi also wanted the prime minister to either ‘give up or tone down his arrogance’, noting that it would benefit not only the country but Modi too.

He also advised the prime minister to give up his foreign tours and talk about Pakistan and instead reach out to the farmers, labourers and unemployed youth to whom he had promised jobs.

“The message from Bihar is echoing all over, which is that the prime minister should listen and try to understand...  Modi, BJP and RSS cannot divide this country, cannot win elections by pitting Hindus against Muslims. The nation belongs to all,” Gandhi asserted.

Targeting Modi, Gandhi lamented the way the prime minister had canvassed for votes, saying that it neither enhances either his prestige or that of the country.

“This is a victory of unity over divisiveness, humility over arrogance and love over hate. It is a victory of the people of Bihar,” the Congress leader said in a series of tweets.

Coming out strongly in support of Kumar, he said the Janata Dal-United  leader was the alliance’s chief ministerial candidate and, under him, Bihar would continue to witness development.

Meanwhile, asked whether the Congress would participate in the government, he merely said it was an internal issue which would be deliberated upon and that he cannot answer such queries at a press conference.

Later, Gandhi spoke to Kumar and Lalu Prasad and congratulated them over the decisive victory.

‘Spoke to @NitishKumar ji & @laluprasadrjd ji -congratulated them on the Mahagathbandhan’s decisive victory,’ he tweeted.

Photograph: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi interacts with media during celebration of Grand Alliance's victory in the Bihar assembly elections, at party headquarters in New Delhi on Sunday. PTI Photo