STATE TIMES NEWS
Solapur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Congress, despite its “tainted background”, is dreaming of snatching power in the country unaware that the INDI alliance is already vanquished in the first two phases of Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a rally in Solapur, Modi said a ‘mahayudh’ is going on in the INDI bloc over leadership and they have come up with a formula of “five PMs in five years”, who will eventually loot the country.
He said the people have tested him for 10 years whereas there is a leadership crisis in the INDIA bloc.
“In this election, you will choose the guarantee of development for the next 5 years. On the other side, there are people, who before 2014, gave the country corruption, terrorism, and non-governance. Despite its tainted history, Congress is once again dreaming of snatching power in the country but they do not know that in the first two phases of polls, the INDI alliance is vanquished,” said Modi.
You have tested Modi for 10 years, you have seen his every step and measured his every word. On the other hand, a ‘mahayudh’ is going on in the INDI alliance over leadership, he said.
“Will you give the reins of the country in someone’s hand who has not decided the name or face (of PM candidate)? Will anyone make that mistake?” he asked.
Targeting the opposition bloc, Modi said some people have been creating rifts in the country to snatch power and have come up with a formula of “five PMs in five years”.
“One year, one PM. The first one will loot as much as he wants, the second will continue to loot, and then the third, fourth and fifth will also do the same,” he said.
Taking a jibe at Uddhav Thackeray, Modi said the “nakli” Shiv Sena says they have multiple options for leadership.
“Can the country run on this formula of ‘five PMs in five years’? In reality, they don’t want to run the country and are not concerned about your future. They just want to eat ‘malai’ (alluding to corruption),” he said.
In the last 10 years, the emphasis of the Central government was on “true” social justice, whereas Congress worked to stall the rights of SCs, STs, and OBCs in its 60-year rule, Modi said.
He said Maharashtra is the land of social justice.
“You have seen Congress’ rule of 60 years and also seen 10 years of Modi’s seva kaal. The kind of work done in the last 1decade for social justice had not taken place after Independence,” Modi said.
He said it is their (Congress’) policy to do nothing for backward sections so that they remain ‘aashrit’ on them, and votes can be sought.
“We granted constitutional status to OBC commission, implemented OBC quota in medical exams, increased political quota for OBCs which is supposed to be raised by 10 years,” the PM said.
Without taking away the rights of Dalits, adivasis, or OBCs, the government granted a 10 per cent quota to poor people in the general category, which was welcomed by everyone including Dalit leaders, he said.
“As every child cannot get education in English medium, we allowed students to become doctors in Marathi medium. If they want to become engineers, they can study in Marathi. You can run the country, even if you do not know English,” he said.
Modi said Congress never wanted Dalit, adivasi and OBC leadership to lead the country and insulted Dalit leaders.
“Babasaheb Ambedkar got the Bharat Ratna when a BJP-backed government was in power at the Centre. BJP endeavours to give a maximum representation to Dalits and adivasis,” he said, adding that NDA made a son of a Dalit (Ram Nath Kovind) and an Adivasi daughter (Droupadi Murmu) Presidents in 2014 and 2019.
Modi claimed Congress and the INDI alliance are “spreading lies” on OBC representation as they have become irritated after being exposed.
“In entire elections, the INDI alliance has only agenda to abuse Modi. They invent new abuses every day. I want to ask them to speak for the Nation. They lacked vision. We have the vision and can transform it into reality,” he said.
He alleged the Congress-led opposition is also “spreading lies that the Constitution will be changed (if BJP comes to power again). “Even if Dr Ambedkar comes and wants to change the Constitution, he won’t be able to do so,” the PM said.
He said it was the opportunity for him to redeem the sins committed by ancestors who had meted out injustice to Dalits and people from backward communities.
Modi claimed the INDI alliance wants to give the share of Dalits and OBCs to minorities.
“I won’t allow this ploy. They have already played a game in Karnataka by giving a major share of the quota to minorities. I will not allow this. People from SC, ST and OBC communities faced hardships,” he said.
The Congress didn’t allow Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Constitution to be implemented in Kashmir.
“They insulted the Constitution by inserting Article 370, but Modi abrogated it and gave the people of J&K the right of social justice,” he added.
Solapur (SC) seat will see the contest between Congress’ Praniti Shinde and BJP nominee Ram Satpute.
Rivals spreading fake videos: PM
Satara (Maharashtra): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said political rivals who are unable to take on the BJP-led government are now misusing technology to spread fake videos on social media.
At an election rally in Karad of western Maharashtra’s Satara district, Modi raised concerns about the misuse of social media and technology and warned “there is a plan to create a big incident in next one month”.
Modi spoke of the emergence of fake videos created using artificial intelligence (AI), and asked people to remain vigilant and report any instances of fake videos to the authorities.
“Opponents are using AI to distort quotes of leaders like me, Amit Shah and J P Nadda to create social discord. By using technology, these people are making fake videos in my voice, which is creating danger. If you see any fake video, inform the police,” he said.
“There is a plan to create a big incident in next one month. I am making these allegations with a lot of seriousness. Games are being played to create social tension so that some untoward incident takes place,” Modi claimed.
“It is our responsibility to save the society from such fake videos. I request EC to take stern action against those behind such fake videos,” he said.
The PM cautioned citizens against forwarding such videos as the laws are strict, adding that he did not want innocent people to become victims of it.
Asserting that the 21st century was a technology driven one, Modi said he was a supporter of technology and had used social media to know about people’s aspirations and wishes as well as gain first hand information on whether benefits of welfare schemes were reaching the masses.
“But recent incidents (of misuse of technology) are disturbing. These will make any person who loves democracy hang his head in shame,” Modi said.
Abrogating Article 370 from Jammu-Kashmir was a guarantee he had given and he had fulfilled it, the PM said.
“I want to ask those who are speaking lies about reservations and misleading the people that weren’t Dalits and Adivasis living in J-K entitled to reservations. Why was the Constitution not implemented there? Because vote bank politics was being played,” he said.
By removing Article 370, the Constitution drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar was implemented in J-K and Dalit and Adivasi brethren are now getting benefits of reservations, the PM said.
The Constitution does not allow reservations on the basis of religion but the Congress declared Muslims as OBCs overnight and accommodated them in the 27 per cent quota for the segment, the PM said.
“The Congress wants to implement this model across the country after they come to power. Till I am alive, I won’t allow any change of Constitution and religion-based reservation. I have the blessings of the people,” Modi said.
Modi said the Congress kept families of soldiers deprived of “one rank one pension” scheme for 40 years but his government fulfilled that guarantee.
During NDA rule, the Navy unveiled epaulette designs having the imprint of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (replacing the colonial Nelson’s Ring), he added.
Modi said the public health system would be strengthened by setting up more AIIMS campuses in the country.
Speaking about his government’s decision to provide free ration to 80 crore persons, the PM said tonnes of food grains used to rot in government godowns when the Congress was in power.
Despite this, the Congress was not ready to give it to the poor and the Supreme Court had to intervene to set things right, he said.
The Congress was insensitive while in power and is now uneasy when the Centre is distributing food grains to the poor, the PM asserted.
Attacking the Congress over wealth redistribution and inheritance tax, Modi said that party would “conduct house searches, X-ray your properties and seize them”.
“Their intention is to loot your property and redistribute it among their ‘khaas’ (favourite) vote bank,” the PM said.
