In an obvious attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said some people appeared reluctant to learn with age.
"Some people learn with age but some don't," Modi said in the Lok Sabha, a day after Gandhi attacked the prime minister and his reluctance to take the opposition on board over various issues.
Again, without taking Gandhi's name, Modi recalled how the Congress leader had in 2013 tore before reporters a controversial ordinance of the then Congress government on convicted lawmakers.
The incident occurred when then prime minister Manmohan Singh was in the US. This, Modi said, embarrassed the party.
"The ordinance was torn apart when the then honourable prime minister Manmohan Singh was in the US to meet (Barack) Obama. Please learn to respect elders," Modi said as Gandhi listened.
MPs from the BJP and its allies thumped their desks in appreciation even as the opposition booed following Modi's remark.
Modi said he was being criticized because the Congress was feeling "jealous" with his government's achievements in less than two years -- something "they didn't do in 60 years".
"They are worried because we are doing better."
However, as his more than an hour-long speech in Hindi drew to a close, Modi made a plea for peace.
"Let's walk shoulder-to-shoulder and do something for the country. I am new, you are experienced. Come, let us work together for the country. We indulge in verbal brawls because we fear what will be printed in the newspapers. All of us have to work together and think of increasing the accountability of the executive."
