Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the Congress party as a "parasite" during his keynote speech at the NDTV World Summit 2026 on Thursday in New Delhi, a live broadcast that reached millions across the country.
Modi, addressing a global audience of 200,000, warned that the opposition would continue to jeopardise India’s progress, citing the party’s lack of a clear vision since its defeat in 2019.
He likened the Congress to a "failed product" that seeks to drag down national development, saying it has become a "burden" that hampers progress and that its attempts to tarnish India’s reputation abroad must stop.
The remarks come as the Congress gears up for its next leadership election and as Parliament debates the government’s flagship initiatives, with opposition leaders poised to counter the PM’s narrative.