New Delhi - In a dramatic session of the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi unleashed a blistering attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the no-confidence motion debate. Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of being "anti-national" and of contributing to the dire situation in Manipur, where ethnic violence has plagued the region since May 3, resulting in more than 150 casualties and the displacement of tens of thousands.

Gandhi's speech, which marked his return to the Lok Sabha after the Supreme Court suspended his 2019 defamation case conviction, was a fervent critique of Modi's leadership and handling of the crisis in Manipur. He began by emphasizing the unity of India's diverse population, asserting that the country speaks with one voice - the voice of the people, their struggles, and their pain.

Taking aim at Modi's perceived detachment from Manipur, Gandhi accused the Prime Minister of neglecting the state's dire situation. "You have divided Manipur into two halves. You have destroyed Manipur," he exclaimed, suggesting that Modi's failure to address the situation demonstrated a disregard for the region and its people.

Gandhi escalated his rhetoric by alleging that Modi's lack of action in Manipur amounted to the murder of India's essence. He claimed that Modi's reluctance to intervene was tantamount to murdering Bharat Mata (Mother India) in Manipur, branding the Prime Minister as "anti-national" and unfit to be called a patriot.

Continuing his speech despite protests from the treasury benches, Gandhi drew parallels between Modi's leadership and the epic Ramayana, comparing Modi's selective advisors - Amit Shah and billionaire Gautam Adani - to the characters Meghnad and Kumbhakaran, who influenced the demon king Ravan. He criticized Modi's concentration of power and likened it to Ravan's arrogance, blaming it for the ongoing violence in Manipur.

While the session was marked by heated exchanges, Speaker Om Birla intervened to urge caution in using terms like "Bharat Mata," highlighting its cultural significance as the motherland. However, Gandhi persisted, alleging that Modi's inaction was akin to killing a mother and demanding an end to the violence.

Gandhi ended his speech by challenging the Prime Minister's priorities, questioning whose voices Modi heeded if not those of the people of India. He maintained that Modi only listened to two figures - Amit Shah and Gautam Adani - a situation he likened to Ravan's limited counsel.

This speech comes amid the ongoing no-confidence motion debate initiated by the Congress on July 26. While Modi has yet to address the situation in Manipur, he is expected to speak on August 10. This marks the second time Modi's government has faced a no-confidence motion, the first occurring in 2018.

In a poignant display, Gandhi's speech shed light on the tragic stories of women affected by the violence in Manipur, which seemed to evoke emotions from both sides of the aisle. Amidst the political jousting, the nation's focus remains on the suffering in Manipur and the larger question of leadership and accountability in times of crisis.