Prime Minister Modi's Attack on Congress in Tonk Rally
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party during an election rally in Tonk, Rajasthan. He accused the Congress of attempting to extend reservation on the basis of religion and give it to Muslims. He also alleged that the Congress hatched a "deep conspiracy" to snatch people's wealth and distribute it among "select" people.
Modi claimed that as soon as the Congress formed the government at the Centre in 2004, one of its first tasks was to reduce the SC/ST reservation in Andhra Pradesh and give it to Muslims. He asserted that he is dedicated to the Constitution and will not allow reservation for Dalits and backward tribals to be divided in the name of religion.
The Prime Minister further alleged that the Congress tried to implement Muslim reservation in Andhra Pradesh four times between 2004 and 2010 but failed due to legal hurdles and the Supreme Court's intervention. He accused the Congress of playing a game of snatching away the rights of SC, ST, and OBC and giving them to others for vote bank politics.
Modi also criticized the Congress for its stance on wealth redistribution. He referred to former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remark that Muslims have the first right on the resources of the country and accused the Congress of wanting to redistribute wealth to "select" people.
The Prime Minister also criticized the Congress for its stance on religious freedom. He said that under the Congress rule, even listening to Hanuman Chalisa becomes a crime and referred to an incident in Karnataka where a shopkeeper was beaten up for listening to the devotional hymn. He contrasted this with the BJP's rule in Rajasthan, where people can freely recite Hanuman Chalisa and celebrate Ram Navami.
Modi concluded his speech by accusing the Congress of throwing several cities in Rajasthan into the "fire of riots" during its rule. He contrasted this with the BJP's rule, which he claimed has brought peace and stability to the state.