A MASSIVE war of words broke out between Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and former parliamentarian Rahul Gandhi, one of the country's major opposition faces, after the former slammed his political opponents as "directionless" and cited the "Indian Mujahideen" and "Popular Front of India" while targeting them over their new alliance name INDIA -- an acronym for Indian National Development Inclusive Alliance.
Former minister and current parliamentarian from Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Ravi Shankar Prasad quoted Modi as saying at the weekly meeting of the saffron party's parliamentary party that he has never witnessed such a "directionless opposition".
The prime minister also reportedly attacked the opposition grouping on the name it picked for itself at a meeting of 26 parties in the southern city of Bengaluru last week to lay out the strategy for the 2024 national election.
"They keep praising themselves for the name INDIA. Indian National Congress. East India company. Indian Mujahideen. Popular Front of India -- these are also INDIA. Just using the name INDIA does not mean anything," Prasad quoted Modi as saying, according to NDTV.
While the BJP leadership felt that people were being misled by the use of the country's name, Gandhi hit back at them targeting Modi. In a tweet, the 53-year-old leader touched upon both India and the violence-hit north-eastern state of Manipur, saying, "Call us whatever you want, Mr. Modi. We are INDIA. We will help heal Manipur and wipe the tears of every woman and child. We will bring back love and peace for all her people. We will rebuild the idea of India in Manipur,
Gandhi visited Manipur, which has been witnessing violence since May 4, last month while Modi is yet to visit the state.
The exchange of the sharp remarks between the two top leaders came in the middle of a standoff in the parliament over the ongoing crisis in Manipur and repeated disruptions over the opposition's demand for a statement by Modi on burning issues such as the recent viral video of two women paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob in Manipur.
The video caused such an outrage that Modi condemned the incident (which reportedly happened on May 4, a day after ethnic clashes broke out in the state) outside the parliament before the start of the monsoon session on July 20 but the opposition were not convinced, as the Congress said he spoke too little too late.
Modi also reportedly called the opposition "defeated, tired, hopeless, with a single-point agenda -- opposing Modi" and mocked them saying their conduct showed that they had made up their mind to remain in the opposition.
The prime minister also expressed confidence that the BJP would win the 2024 general elections easily with the support of the people.
A rescuer assists a resident through heavy mud following flash floods on August 27, 2026 in Trishuli, Nepal. A sudden flood swept through the Bhote Koshi River basin in northern Rasuwa on August 26, damaging settlements, roads and energy infrastructure as rescue teams searched for residents and foreign travellers reported out of contact. Hundreds were reported missing, as the death toll started to climb.Getty Images
Rescue personnel provide medical treatment to a child at an army rescue camp in Trishuli Batar, Nepal, on August 27, 2026. A sudden flood swept through the Bhote Koshi River basin in northern Rasuwa on August 26, damaging settlements, roads and energy infrastructure, as rescue teams searched for residents and foreign travellers reported out of contact. Hundreds were reported missing as the death toll began to climb. Getty Ima
Family members of missing flood victims react at the emergency ward of the Maharajgunj Medical Campus, part of the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, on August 28, 2026 in Kathmandu, Nepal. Authorities said the flash floods were triggered after a mass of ice, mud and rock collapsed into a Himalayan river near the Nepal-China border, leaving hundreds dead or missing and causing widespread damage in affected districts. Authorities continued the gruelling search for victims, many buried under metres of mud, as both China and Nepal issued fresh flooding alerts.Getty Images