Mumbai, February 25: In a sharp critique, Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande has accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of using his international travels solely to tarnish India’s global image. Speaking to reporters here, Kayande drew a stark contrast between Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s productive overseas engagements and Gandhi’s alleged smear campaigns.
Kayande highlighted Modi’s recent two-day visit to Israel, emphasizing how the Prime Minister always returns with tangible benefits for the nation. ‘Wherever PM Modi goes, he brings back something valuable for India,’ she asserted. In opposition, she portrayed Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, as someone whose foreign jaunts are motivated purely by a desire to defame the country.
The Shiv Sena firebrand noted that the public has now seen through Gandhi’s tactics. ‘Rahul Gandhi stands fully exposed. PM Modi is no longer just India’s leader; he’s a global statesman,’ she declared. This comes amid ongoing political debates over leaders’ international diplomacy.
Turning to former US President Donald Trump’s controversial remark about Pakistan’s Prime Minister amid war threats, Kayande dismissed it outright. ‘No one knows what Trump will say or do next. He should stop misleading the world with his baseless statements,’ she urged.
On the rising demand to include cricketers Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami in India’s T20 World Cup squad, especially after a heavy defeat to South Africa in the Super 8 stage, Kayande treaded cautiously. ‘I’m no cricket expert, so I’ll leave that to the BCCI and officials,’ she said. The call, backed by AIMIM, gains urgency as India’s path to semifinals looks increasingly daunting.