Modi let Pakistan off the hook: Rahul Gandhi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday tore into Narendra Modi's Pakistan approach and said the prime minister let that country "out of the little cage" it had been put in after the dastardly Mumbai terror attacks.

Gandhi lashed out at the prime minister for not listening to anyone, including his External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

He said the United Progress Alliance government led by the Congress had scored a diplomatic victory over Pakistan and "destroyed their reputation" after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

"Pakistan directly attacked this country in Mumbai. They trained and sent killers into Mumbai. And what does the PM do? He decides to have to go to Pakistan and have a cup of tea with (Pakistan Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif, without any vision," Gandhi said in a fiery speech in the Lok Sabha.

He said Modi "did not bother to ask anyone" before making a sudden trip to Lahore December 25 last.

"He didn't ask Sushma ji even. He just went there as if only his opinion matters," the Congress leader said amid frequent thumping of desks by his party colleagues.

"He destroyed six years of our hard work. He gifted them (Pakistan) a status and put them out of the cage we had put them in. He disrespected the national flag, the oath, those who died in Mumbai."

The Congress leader took a jibe at the prime minister for allegedly refusing to consult others on issues pertaining to the country.

"The PM has to listen to others. Listen to Rajnath Singh ji, Sushma Swaraj ji, Advani ji?Listen to your MPs. We don't hate you. Listen to your own people, listen to the voice of next generation," Gandhi said, addressing Modi who was not in the house.