PM Modi accused the Congress of using minority communities as a "vote-bank" during its previous term from 2004 to 2014.
PM Narendra Modi/ PTI
At a rally in Nashik, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked the Congress for proposing to provide 15% of the national government budget to religious minorities. He committed to reject any attempt to divide the budget or impose religious preferences in employment and education.
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Modi accused the Congress of using minority communities as a "vote-bank" during its previous term from 2004 to 2014. He emphasised that the BJP was vehemently opposed to the proposal to allocate budgets based on religion, obstructing its implementation, reported PTI.
The Prime Minister highlighted that Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Constitution's architect, was opposed to the religion-based reservation. He cautioned against the risky practice of dividing the budget along religious lines.
"We give the benefit of welfare schemes to everyone. But the Congress wants division and distribution of budgets based on religion. They divided the country on the basis of religion and are doing it even today," stated PM Modi and added, "When I was the chief minister (of Gujarat), the Congress (then heading UPA government) had brought up this proposal (to earmark 15 pc of budget for minorities). The BJP strongly opposed this move and hence it could not be implemented. But the Congress wants to bring this dangerous proposal again (if voted to power)."
Modi also chastised the Shiv Sena led by Uddhav Thackeray for allying with the Congress, calling it a "duplicate" party. He accused the Congress of discarding Hindu cultural practices while praising his government's efforts to provide social programmes to all sections of society, regardless of faith, reported PTI.
"Merger of small parties with the Congress is sure to happen. When duplicate Shiv Sena (referring to Sena UBT headed by Uddhav) merges, I will remember Balasaheb Thackeray's words that if the Shiv Sena becomes like the Congress, he will shut down his party. Now, the duplicate Shiv Sena will cease to exist. The duplicate Shiv Sena has crushed all dreams of Balasaheb Thackeray," he said.
"The dream has been accomplished, but the duplicate Shiv Sena is upset. The Congress rejected the invite for 'pran pratistha' (idol consecration ceremony at Ram temple) and the duplicate Shiv Sena also took the same path," the PM opined.
"Congress leaders are criticising the rituals done in the Ram temple at Ayodhya, but the "duplicate" Shiv Sena is keeping quiet. The Congress abuses (Hindutva icon) Veer Savarkar, but the duplicate Shiv Sena is supporting the Congress. The duplicate Shiv Sena has abjectly surrendered to the Congress. The people of Maharashtra have decided to punish the duplicate Shiv Sena," Modi remarked.
The Prime Minister highlighted farmer welfare actions, such as abolishing the onion export prohibition and expanding onion buffer stocks. He pledged continuous support for farmers and urged people to elect strong leaders for a thriving India.
"Modi is the chowkidar (watchman) of rights of deprived sections of society and will never let the Congress take away their rights. Modi will not let budget distribution or quota on the basis of religion," the BJP stalwart declared.
"Your service is my life's biggest goal. In the last ten years, you have seen my work and now I have come to seek your blessings for a third term for a Viksit Bharat (developed India). If (voting) trends of the four phases held so far are any indication, the NDA will get a huge mandate," he asserted.
PM Modi was campaigning for Bharati Pawar (BJP) and Hemant Godse (Shiv Sena) who are running in the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Nashik and Dindori, respectively.
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