Chandigarh (Haryana) [India], May 21 (ANI): In a response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's national appeal to cut down on private vehicle usage, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini travelled from Chandigarh to Delhi by train on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters, CM Saini urged citizens to switch to public transit to mitigate future environmental and resource challenges, drawing a parallel to the country's unified fight against the COVID-19 pandemic to inspire public cooperation.

'PM Modi has appealed to the people of the country. We should cooperate. PM has said that we should bring down the usage of (private) vehicles and use public modes of commute more. We should contribute towards this. So that we can face the difficulties which might come before us in the time to come. We will overcome this together, just like we overcame Corona,' said CM.

Saini strongly condemned Rahul Gandhi's 'traitors' remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an immediate apology to the nation and stating that the Congress party is collapsing due to a lack of policy, intent, and leadership.

'Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the nation. Congress party is getting finished because they have no 'niti, niyat, netritva'. He says whatever he feels like...Pointing fingers at a man like the PM is like pointing fingers at the country. He should apologise to the country and take back his words,' said CM.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi had urged people to openly confront RSS workers and called the Prime Minister, Home Minister and the organisation 'traitors', accusing them of undermining the Constitution and selling off 'India's economic system'.

'When these RSS workers come before you, they will speak of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, then you must say to their faces that your Prime Minister, Home Minister, and the organisation (BJP) is a traitor, you have worked to sell India. You have worked to attack the Constitution,' Gandhi said.

The remarks drew immediate and sharp reactions from the BJP leadership, which accused Gandhi of crossing political and constitutional boundaries. (ANI)