WARDHA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Congress of coining the term "Hindu Terror" for its "vote-bank politics" and thereby insulting crores of "peace-loving" followers of the religion by linking them to terrorism. Modi was addressing a public rally in Maharashtra's Wardha as he launched the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance's Lok Sabha poll campaign.

"In our 5000-year old culture, it's the first time the Congress-Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) committed the sin of calling the peaceful Hindus 'terrorists' and maligning them before the whole world," Modi said.

The Hindus have now woken up and the country has decided to "punish" the opposition party, Modi said.

"The Congress tried to stain crores of the country's people using the term Hindu terror. Tell me, weren't you deeply hurt when you heard the term 'Hindu terror'? Is there a single incident in the history of thousands of years of Hindus engaging in terrorism?" Modi said.

He also asked the people whether they would forgive the Congress for committing the "sin" of linking peace-loving Hindus to terrorism.

The prime minister said the Congress was very well aware now that the country has decided to "punish" it.

"Some leaders are shying away from contesting polls (in the first place). Those, whom it (Congress) called terrorist, have woken up," Modi said.

"They linked peace-loving Hindus to terrorism... they are scared now to contest election from constituency where majority population dominates...they are forced to go where majority (Hindus) are in minority," he added.

"This is being done to pamper their vote-bank politics and they will go to any extent to protect them, so the Congress-NCP keeps insulting the common Hindus, our brave soldiers, demand proof of the IAF (Indian Air Force) actions in Pakistan, etc, which is making them popular in the neighbouring country," he said.

"You decide -- Who do you want? Indian heroes or those who have become heroes in Pakistan? Will you teach them a lesson or not? You must create a record by ensuring that the Congress-NCP do not win a single seat (of 48) in Maharashtra," Modi urged the gathering.

The Wardha constituency is one of the seven Vidarbha parliamentary seats which go to polls in the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra on April 11.

Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Ramdas Athawale and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also attended the rally along with other leaders of the 'Mahayuti' comprising BJP, Shiv Sena and RPI(A).