Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday strongly condemned individuals he accused of defaming India and undermining its unity. Speaking at the inauguration of infrastructure projects worth ₹8,000 crore in Ahmedabad, Modi's comments appeared to be a veiled response to recent remarks made by Rahul Gandhi during his visit to the United States.

Although Modi did not explicitly name Gandhi, his speech addressed "some people" spreading negativity and attempting to harm the nation's reputation. "Those filled with hate are trying to defame India and Gujarat," Modi said. He added that these individuals are working to "break up" the country, using the phrase "tukde, tukde" to emphasize his point.

Modi's remarks come ahead of the first phase of voting in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election, where he also criticized the Congress and its ally, the National Conference. Both parties have pledged to restore the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370, which was abrogated by the BJP in August 2019 and led to the division of the region into two union territories.

In his address, Modi sought to appeal emotionally to voters in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in other states like Haryana and Maharashtra, which are also heading to polls this year. He emphasized his commitment to the country, stating that despite facing insults and mockery from critics, he remains dedicated to serving the people.

Rahul Gandhi’s comments in the US, where he discussed issues related to religious freedoms and ideological differences with the BJP, have sparked backlash from various union ministers and officials. Notable figures like Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar have all responded critically to Gandhi’s statements.

Gandhi had raised concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in India, including Sikhs, and suggested that the BJP's policies are driven by ideological divides. This criticism has led to responses from BJP leaders, including Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, who recalled the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who accused high-ranking officials of forgetting their constitutional oath.

Gandhi’s comments also included criticism of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological mentor of the BJP. He used analogies to illustrate his point about inclusivity and questioned the BJP’s understanding of India’s diverse nature.