'Jawaharlal Nehru thought Indians are lazy': Modi cites India's first PM's 1959 speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress by recalling the comments of Jawaharlal Nehru comparing the work ethics and intelligence of Indians with the Americans and the Chinese.

In a nearly two-hour-long speech before the Lok Sabha, Modi cited Nehru's Independence Day speech of 1959 to drive home his point that the first PM and his daughter Indira had negative opinions of the Indians and added that they never trusted the capability of the country.

"Nehru had said: 'We do not work as hard the Europeans, Japanese, Chinese, Russians or the Americans. Do not think that these communities became prosperous by some magic. They have achieved this by hard work, by smartness.' This shows Nehru thought Indians were lazy and did not have brains. He did not trust their potential," he said.

"Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not think differently either, he said. "Indira ji had said from (the ramparts of) Red Fort, 'Unfortunately, it is our habit that when a good work is approaching completion, we become complacent. And when an obstacle comes, we lose hope. Sometimes it seems the whole nation has accepted defeat'. Looking at Congress today, it appears that Indira ji may have underestimated the countrymen, but she evaluated the Congress well," he said.

"This was the thinking of the Royal Family of Congress about Indians," Modi said, noting that he has immense faith in the ability of the country and its people.