PM Narendra Modi during a rally in Parbhani, Maharashtra, likened the Congress party to a vine devoid of roots or branches, alleging that it drains those who extend support to it. He cautioned the public to remain vigilant against the opposition alliance to achieve the objectives of 'Viksit Bharat' and 'Viksit Maharashtra'.
Addressing the gathering to rally support for NDA ally Rashtriya Samaj Paksha’s Mahadev Jankar, contesting from the Parbhani Lok Sabha seat, Modi emphasised that the 2024 elections are not merely about forming a government but about propelling India towards development and self-reliance, PTI reported.
This marked Modi's second rally of the day in Maharashtra, following an address in the neighboring Nanded constituency. Both constituencies are scheduled for polls in the second phase on April 26.
“Congress is a vine which doesn't have roots or branches. It sucks dry those who lend support to it,” Modi said. He accused the Congress of starting the Kashmir dispute and dividing the nation. He specifically highlighted the Congress's obstruction of the implementation of the Constitution in Kashmir under Article 370, which was repealed by the Modi government in 2019.
Congress and its allies hate every heritage of the country, he outlined.
Furthermore, Modi condemned the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi in Maharashtra, alleging that the Congress and the "fake Shiv Sena" were engaged in commemorating the grave of Yakub Memon, a convict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. “When the I.N.D.I alliance was in power, they did not make (people) feel that the Nizam rule had ended, the Razakar mentality was overwhelming here. Their priority was (to decorate) Yakub Memon’s grave,” said Modi.
Modi invoked the legacy of Bal Thackeray, the late Shiv Sena founder, in Parbhani, highlighting the rejection of the Razakar mentality in the region. He underscored the opposition's hindrance to developmental schemes like 'Jal Yukta Shivar' and the Marathwada water-grid program initiated during the previous NDA government led by Devendra Fadnavis from 2014 to 2019.
2024 Lok Sabha Elections Crucial In Positioning India As World's Third-Largest Economy: PM Modi
Encouraging vigilance against the "I.N.D.I alliance," Modi asserted that the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are pivotal in positioning India as the world's third-largest economy.
Reflecting on his government's achievements, Modi highlighted milestones such as Chandrayaan's success and he promised that 140 crore Indians will witness the success of Gaganyaan (ISRO's manned mission).
"This is the first election where people are talking about the success of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, from anti-coronavirus vaccine to weapons for the armed forces," he added. “In only ten years, the country has traversed a long journey of development,” Modi also added.
The PM further added that when he first contested the Lok Sabha polls in 2014, there was wide fear of terror attacks and blasts and the pain of the soldiers' deaths. “However, the talk was about surgical strikes in the next five years in 2019,” he outlined.
Modi emphasised that he has experienced poverty firsthand and understands the struggles of the impoverished. He asserted that it is unacceptable for any underprivileged individual to endure the hardships he faced. Modi guaranteed that those who have been deprived of basic necessities like housing, gas, or tap water connections will receive them during his third term. He pledged to construct three crore new houses for the poor over the next five years.