Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has mounted a fierce counterattack against Prime Minister Narendra Modi following sharp barbs directed at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, asserting that Modi holds the nation's highest executive office today solely because of the democratic foundation built and preserved by the Congress party.

Speaking to reporters, Shivakumar reacted strongly to recent remarks made by the Prime Minister in Parliament and during election rallies mocking the Leader of the Opposition. The senior Congress leader stressed that India's constitutional governance and peaceful transitions of power remain the enduring gifts of the country's founding leadership.

'Democracy Enabled Your Rise'

Directly addressing the Prime Minister's recurring criticisms of the Nehru-Gandhi family, Shivakumar stated that without the constitutional framework established by the post-independence Congress leadership, ordinary citizens would not have had the avenue to reach top constitutional offices.

"Prime Minister Modi should remember that he is sitting in that chair today because the Congress party fought for India's freedom, drafted a robust Constitution, and nurtured an enduring democracy," Shivakumar said. "Had Congress not preserved democratic institutions and respected electoral mandates over seven decades, no common man or leader from outside privileged elites could have ascended to the post of Prime Minister."

Shivakumar noted that rather than trivializing Rahul Gandhi's voice in Parliament, the ruling dispensation should address the core policy questions being raised regarding unemployment, regional federalism, and social equity.

Escalating War of Words

The rebuttal follows aggressive exchanges between the treasury benches and the opposition across multiple legislative sessions. Prime Minister Modi had repeatedly taken aim at Rahul Gandhi, dismissing his criticisms of government policy as disconnected from ground realities.

Shivakumar defended Gandhi's role as the Leader of the Opposition, stating that raising uncomfortable questions about governance is not an assault on the nation, but the fundamental duty entrusted by the Constitution.

"The Leader of the Opposition represents millions of voters who demand accountability," Shivakumar remarked. "Mocking him is an attempt to deflect attention from pressing socio-economic challenges that require immediate government intervention."

Focus on Constitutional Values

The Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister urged national leaders to maintain decorum in political discourse, highlighting that parliamentary democracy thrives on institutional respect rather than personal ridicule.

Political observers note that Shivakumar's pointed response signals the Congress party's broader strategy to frame ongoing ideological battles as a defense of constitutional democracy ahead of key state assembly elections and upcoming legislative battles.