'Nehru thought Indians are lazy and less intelligent': PM Modi in Lok Sabha

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday while attacking Congress, mentioned a speech given by former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru where he said that Indians are “lazy” and less capable than Americans or Chinese.

Quoting excerpts from Nehru’s speech, Modi said, “Let me read what Prime Minister Nehru had said from the Red Fort. ‘Indians generally do not have the habit of working very hard, we do not work as much as the people of Europe or Japan or China or Russia or America’.”

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi read out a statement from a speech of former PM late Jawaharlal Nehru, in Lok Sabha today.

PM Modi said, "...It means that Nehru ji thought that Indians are lazy and less intelligent." pic.twitter.com/GBba9NEbz3

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024

He also criticised former prime minister Indira Gandhi for not recognising the full capabilities of Indians when she was in power.

“The Congress never trusted India’s potential. They always considered themselves rulers and belittled people,” Modi said.

“Indira ji had said from (the ramparts of) Red Fort, ‘Unfortunately, it is our habit that when a good work is approaching completion, we become complacent. And when an obstacle comes, we lose hope. Sometimes it seems the whole nation has accepted defeat’. Looking at Congress today, it appears that Indira ji may have underestimated the countrymen, but she evaluated the Congress well,” he added.

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, "Congress' mindset is that it has never trusted the capability of the country. It considered itself rulers and the public as someone lesser, someone smaller..."

He reads out a statement of the then PM Jawaharlal Nehru, "...It means that Nehru ji… pic.twitter.com/69D6kTgmLO

— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2024

The prime minister’s comments came during his response to the President’s Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmu’s speech in the Parliament last week.

Modi’s jibe at the Opposition

Taking a swipe at the Opposition, saying that he appreciates their resolve to remain in that position for decades adding that many opposition parties have lost the courage to fight the upcoming elections.

Speaking at the Lok Sabha, Modi said, “I appreciate the Opposition’s resolve to remain in the opposition for a long time…The way you sat here (in govt) for many decades, the same way you resolve to sit there (in opposition). The public will certainly give you its blessings.”

He also expressed his disappointment at the Opposition for not fulfilling their responsibility of holding the position. “Congress had the opportunity to become a good Opposition. However, they were futile in fulfilling that responsibility even in 10 years.”