New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi ratcheted up his Hindutva rhetoric to attack the Congress party, alleging that it intends to upend the Supreme Court’s Ayodhya verdict like in the case of Shah Bano judgement.
Without directly naming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Modi cited the claims made by former Congress leader Acharya Pramod Krishnam to allege that the ‘Shehzada (prince)’ wants to overturn the SC’s verdict.
“Look at the Congress, such a big work related to public sentiments was done in the country and the Congress people did not even go there. Everyone knows what he said and did regarding Maryada Purushottam Ram and his temple. They got the invitation for Pran Pratistha but they did not go there due to fear of their vote bank,” the prime minister said in an interview to Hindi daily Dainik Jagran published Tuesday.
“The revelations made by a former Congress leader who has now left the party is a very dangerous signal. He has been an advisor to the family, who is saying that the ‘Shehzada’ had expressed his intention to reverse the decision on Ram temple. His father (Rajiv Gandhi) had done this in the Shah Bano case. Similarly, they are preparing to overturn the court’s decision. He should answer the country as to what his intentions are.”
In 1985, the Supreme Court had ruled in favour of Shah Bano to lay the ground for Muslim women’s fight for equal rights in matters of marriage and divorce. Later, the Congress government of that time had brought out an Act to overturn the ruling
Modi has been raking up this case in the heat of electioneering as he took the same line of attack on the Congress in his address to a rally in Madhya Pradesh. Back there too, he reiterated the allegations made by Acharya Krishnam.
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‘What is this relationship between Pak & Congress?’
In the front page interview, Modi further explained that his rally speech in which he linked Rahul with Pakistan was “based on facts”.
“Why is it happening that leaders of Pakistan are speaking in favour of Rahul Gandhi? Why is it that Pakistan has made statements about Rahul Gandhi and Indian elections at a time when the feedback at the ground level is overwhelmingly in favour of the BJP?” he argued.
It is only those not in favour of India’s progress who are saying that Rahul should get support because Modi’s policies are not favourable for Pakistan, he alleged..
“Modi’s policies are to ensure that India, its people, and their interests remain safe. Modi’s policy is ‘Nation First, Always First’.”
There have been several occasions where Congress leaders spoke in favour of Pakistan many times, he said. “I am just bringing this fact to the public’s attention: What is this relationship between Pakistan and Congress?”
To a question regarding allegations and counter allegations of changing the Constitution and ending reservation, Modi alleged that it was the Congress that was not implementing the recommendations of the Sachar Commission.
“It (the Congress) tried to implement Muslim reservation in Andhra Pradesh, but the court cancelled it. Now, it’s doing the same work in Karnataka. The Congress has decided to give quota out of the SC-ST-OBC reservation to its vote bank. For this, the Congress party wants to change the Constitution,” he said.
“Modi is guaranteeing that not even an iota of interference will be allowed in the reservation given to SC, ST, OBC and general category poor people under the Constitution.”
It is the Congress that is doing polarisation in the guise of introducing religion-based quota as there is no such provision for reservation in the country, he said to a question on whether the two rival parties were trying to polarise the voters.
“When we warn the people about the work of Congress and its allies, about their track record, it does not lead to polarisation. It is our duty to expose Congress and bring their truth before the public. The country knows very well whose policy is polarisation,” he said, giving the example of Sachar Committee among others.
“Can you imagine how any party or its government can talk about religious discrimination in the army and talk about headcount in it,” the prime minister said, attacking the Congress manifesto’s alleged suggestion of introducing religion-based reservation in the armed forces.
In its manifesto, the Congress has promised to end the Modi government’s Agnipath scheme and replace it with the old recruitment system if voted to power. Introduced in June 2022, the Agnipath scheme has drawn criticism from several quarters over its strategy of recruiting the bulk of soldiers for a period of four years only.
Meanwhile, the prime minister asserted that the issue of development remains firm in the ongoing Lok Sabha campaigning.
Unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party which has a vision for the next 25 years, Modi said, the opposition is pushing divisive politics and ideas.
“Today Congress and its allies should answer whether they will not change the Constitution for reservation on the basis of religion. They should answer that they will not snatch the reservation of SC, ST and OBC, and distribute it on the basis of religion. My third challenge is that Congress should give in writing that wherever its state government is in power, OBC quota will be reduced and reservation will not be given to Muslims on the basis of religion (sic),” the prime minister added.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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