Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed his last public rally for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections, where he took a jibe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray for "handing over the remote control" of the party to the Congress. 


"Mumbai is a city of self-respect, but a party in Maha Vikas Aghadi has handed over its 'remote control' to those who insulted Balasaheb Thackeray," Modi said in the Mumbai rally, in an apparent reference to the former CM Thackeray's party.


"That is why I challenged them to get the Congress to praise Balasaheb Thackeray. Till date these people have not been able to get the Congress and the 'shehzada' of Congress to praise Balasaheb," the PM added.






PM Modi, while addressing a rally in Maharashtra's Nashik on November 8, challenged the MVA to get Congress leaders, particularly Rahul Gandhi, to praise Veer Savarkar and Bala Saheb Thackeray for 15 minutes straight.


Further, PM Modi hit out at the Congress, likening it to a fish out of water. "Congress is desperate for power, adding the grand old party is like a fish out of water," he said.


He claimed that the terror attacks took place across the country during the Congress regime, but the "terror masters" haave stopped now as they know "Modi won't spare them". "Everywhere people were scared of unclaimed objects. But now all this has stopped".


Modi Slams MVA For Questioning India's Achievements, Calls Oppn 'Slave Of Appeasement'


PM Modi also slammed the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi for questioning India’s achievements, saying for them their organisation is more important than the country.


"For Maha Vikas Aghadi, their organisation is more important than the country, and they have a problem when the country moves forward. They raise questions over every achievement of the country. For decades, they denied Marathi the 'classical language' status. When we gave Marathi the 'classical language' status, they had issues with that as well," PM Modi said.






He also claimed that the MVA had become a "slave of appeasement," citing instances when the opposition raised objections to the development in the country and used the term "saffron terrorism" just to gain votes.


"Maha Vikas Aghadi has become slave of appeasement. They raised objection to Ram Temple (in Ayodhya), used the word 'saffron terrorism' to get votes, insulted Veer Savarkar, passed a resolution to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and have also raised objection to imposing the Constitution in the Union Territory," he said.






The BJP is contesting the Maharashtra polls in alliance with Ajit Pawar-led NCP and CM Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena under the ruling Mahayuti banner. It is up against the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance comprising the Shiv Sena (UBT), the NCP (Sharad Pawar), and the Congress.


Voting for the Maharashtra Assembly elections will be held on November 20 and the results will be declared on November 23.