Targeting Rahul Gandhi on his “why are all thieves named Modis” remark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 17 April, said the Congress chief, by making that jibe, had maligned the backward community he hails from.
“The Congress and its allies say that all Modis in the society are thieves. The Congress and its allies have not kept any shortcomings in abusing of my backward caste. This time they have crossed the limits and abused the entire backward society,” Modi said.
Addressing a poll rally in Maharashtra recently, Gandhi had said, “I have a question. Why all the thieves have Modi in their names whether be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi? We don't know how many more such Modis will come out.”
Slamming Gandhi, Modi said, “The ‘naamdar’ (dynast) first tried ‘chowkidar chor hai’ (slogan). Now they are trying to defame a backward community (Modi community). Being from a backward community, I am used to the suffering.”
‘Insult Against Honest Modi Won’t be Tolerated’
“The Congress has been defaming me for several years over my backward community background,” Modi said.
“The Congress’ ‘naamdar’ (dynast) termed the entire backward class as thieves. The insult inflicted on the honest in their (Congress) vendetta against Narendra Modi will not be tolerated,” he warned.
“I am used to such bashing. Now, they are blaming the entire community while defaming me. If you dare to defame a community, I will not tolerate it,” he said. “Why label entire backward community thieves by calling me one,” he added.
The PM attacked the Congress for labelling the middle class as “selfish” and alleged price rise was a regular feature when the country's oldest party was in power.
"Division of communities is the only vision of the Congress," Modi said.
Modi Versus Pawar Over Dynasty Politics
Modi also slammed the "dynastic politics" of Sharad Pawar and claimed the NCP chief had "fled" the poll arena from Madha Lok Sabha constituency as he sensed defeat.
"Pawar is steeped in dynastic politics and his model is a "special family" in Delhi," Modi said, in a veiled reference to the Gandhis.
Attacking Pawar, Modi said the NCP chief wondered if he has a family or not. "Pawar has the right to speak against me or my family because he is elder to me.
Modi also promised to set up a separate Jal Shakti ministry if voted to power again. “A separate department will be made only for river connectivity and increasing irrigation,” he said.
He appealed people to recall the "corruption days" in earlier government when a series of scams made people "ashamed" of the then rulers. In the last five years, there has been no "corruption blot" on his government, he added.
"Confidence in Congress and NCP is on decline as they are not talking about their idea of India. Their only agenda is to dethrone Modi. They do not have any idea of increasing the importance of country globally," he said.
“Mumbai once had become swarg (heaven) of terrorists (referring to several terror attacks on Mumbai). Nothing used to happen in those days. Now, we kill them by striking in their dens,” Modi said.
In an apparent reference to some Opposition leaders seeking proof of the air strike in Pakistan, Modi said, “Some people continue to raise doubts over the valour of our jawans.”
“I am standing like a wall between such people and our valiant soldiers,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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