Congress, SP are Pakistan sympathisers: Modi

NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing rallies in Uttar Pradesh's Basti and Shravasti on Wednesday, accused the Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) of being "sympathisers of Pakistan" and using Islamabad's nuclear power status to scare India. Modi also ridiculed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, calling them "shehzadas" whose political campaigns are like "flop films."

In his third address of the day in Delhi, Modi vowed to conduct an X-ray of corrupt individuals' wealth and return the looted money to the victims if re-elected for a third term. He accused Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal of playing a game of 'kattar bhrastachari' (extreme corruption) and labelled all I.N.D.I.A. bloc members as "extremely corrupt."

Modi also criticised the I.N.D.I.A. bloc for being "communal, casteist, and nepotistic," and blamed Congress for the anti-Sikh riots. Speaking in Delhi's Dwarka, he contrasted the BJP's 'nation first' development model with the 'family first' agenda of Congress and the I.N.D.I.A. grouping.

He urged voters to support the BJP to strengthen the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' (Developed India), emphasising that every vote for the BJP would contribute to this goal. "This huge sea of people is saying in one voice, 'Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar'," he declared.

Modi further attacked Congress and the I.N.D.I.A. bloc for their role in the anti-Sikh riots, asserting that only he is seeking justice for the victims. Highlighting India's growing global influence, he said, "Today, India's stature and respect on the global stage have significantly increased."

Campaigning for BJP's Basti Lok Sabha candidate Harish Dwivedi, Modi mocked the SP and Congress for allegedly fearing Pakistan's atom bomb despite Pakistan's weakened state. "Today, there is no weak Congress government but a strong Modi government," he asserted, adding, "Bharat Aaj Ghar Mein Ghus Kar Maarta Hai."

He dismissed opposition claims of winning 79 seats in Uttar Pradesh as "daydreaming" and predicted they would blame the EVMs after their defeat on June 4. Modi accused the Opposition of blatant appeasement tactics and disrespecting the nation's heritage, especially criticising their stance on the Ram temple.

"Senior SP leaders dismiss the Ram temple as useless and label its devotees as hypocrites. Another INDI leader even called the Ram temple unholy. They openly speak of destroying Sanatan Dharma, led by Congress. The 'Shehzada'" of Congress aim to overturn the Supreme Court's decision on the Ram temple," he said.

During a rally in Shravasti for party candidate Saket Misra, Modi highlighted his government's achievements, such as providing housing for four crore impoverished individuals and opening over 50 crore Jan Dhan accounts. He warned that the SP-Congress alliance would jeopardise these services and take away houses from the poor to give them to their vote bank.

Modi also ridiculed recent Opposition rallies, suggesting they hire crowds for their events. "I was told that the SP and the Congress give contracts to bring people to their rallies. The people are reaching the stage because they have not made the payments," he quipped.