“Drowned in liquor”: PM Modi takes sharp swipe at AAP, Congress, and TMC in Rajya Sabha

PM Modi links liquor policy, corruption, and appeasement in blistering Parliament speech

February 5, 2026

From liquor policy to ‘traitor’ row, PM Modi corners Opposition in Upper House

PM Modi launches blistering attack on Opposition in Rajya Sabha, targets Kejriwal and Rahul

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a sweeping and combative attack on the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, accusing the earlier Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government of being “drowned in liquor” and charging the Congress and Trinamool Congress with decades of corruption, appeasement politics, and institutional decay.

Speaking during his reply to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, the Prime Minister said the Opposition lacked ideas, vision, and a roadmap for the country, while repeatedly attempting to mislead the public and weaken national institutions.

‘Delhi drowned in liquor’

In a pointed jab at Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP, PM Modi said the national capital had suffered under a government that had “drowned in liquor,” an apparent reference to the now-scrapped Delhi excise policy that remains under investigation.

Without naming Kejriwal directly, the Prime Minister said governance had been replaced by scandals and theatrics, adding that such politics ultimately eroded public trust.

Congress accused of decades of corruption

Turning his fire on the Congress, PM Modi accused the party of institutionalising corruption over decades. He said that in earlier times, the mere mention of a “deal” immediately reminded people of the Bofors scandal, underscoring what he described as the Congress’ legacy of graft.

Referring to speeches delivered by past Congress Prime Ministers from the Red Fort, PM Modi said an objective analysis revealed a lack of clarity, long-term vision, and political will. “The country has paid the price for this approach for decades,” he said.

Opposition compared to ‘urban Naxals’

The Prime Minister also accused Opposition parties of deliberately spreading misinformation about public sector undertakings, likening their tactics to those of “urban Naxals” who, he alleged, seek to incite unrest by provoking workers outside factory gates.

He further alleged that such narratives were designed to weaken India’s economic foundations and undermine investor confidence.

Attack on Trinamool over infiltrators

PM Modi also trained his guns on Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress, accusing the party of shielding infiltrators. He said this had resulted in tribal communities losing their land and employment opportunities, particularly in eastern India.

Rahul Gandhi ‘traitor’ remark sparks outrage

A significant portion of the Prime Minister’s speech focused on a controversy involving Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and BJP MP Ravinder Singh Bittu, a Sikh leader who had switched from the Congress ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Recalling the incident, PM Modi said Gandhi’s remark calling Bittu a “traitor” reflected not only arrogance but also a deep-seated hostility towards the Sikh community. He said several leaders had left the Congress over the years, yet none had been labelled traitors—except this Sikh MP.

“This was an insult to Sikhs and their Gurus,” the Prime Minister said amid loud desk-thumping from treasury bench members. He added that Gandhi had failed to apologise and that such language was unacceptable in a democracy.

“This country will not tolerate one of its own being branded a traitor,” PM Modi said, asserting that such conduct would ultimately harm the Congress itself.

Chaotic backdrop in Parliament

PM Modi’s Rajya Sabha address came a day after he was unable to speak in the Lok Sabha due to sustained Opposition protests. Earlier, dramatic scenes unfolded when Opposition MPs allegedly blocked treasury bench seats, including that of the Prime Minister—an act the BJP described as an attempted attack on constitutional decorum.

As the Prime Minister began his speech around 5 pm, Opposition members raised slogans over Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to speak in the Lok Sabha on former Army chief MM Naravane’s book. The sloganeering continued for nearly ten minutes before Opposition MPs staged a walkout.

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