Congress plays vote bank politics; creates doubt and fear: PM Modi
In a scathing attack Saturday on the Congress, PM Modi accused it of practising vote bank politics, telling lies and creating doubt and fear in the minds of people. Modi made the charge at a rally in Ajmer, where Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje also announced free electricity up to a specific limit for farmers with general category power connections. The meeting ended just ahead of the Election Commission announcement in New Delhi of Assembly poll dates for Rajasthan and four other states. The EC's model code of conduct for political parties then kicked in. Modi said vote bank politics is not limited to elections now, but is destroying the “entire system”. The prime minister said parties which follow vote bank politics divide the bureaucracy when they come into power, appointing officials who fit into their scheme. “They allocate the budget as per vote bank politics and therefore overall development does not happen,” he said. “The Congress has established this tradition in the past 60 years,” Modi said. "With great difficulty, the country has picked the right direction now after 60 years. Don't give them another chance." The meeting on the outskirts of Ajmer was scheduled to mark the end of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's ‘Gaurav Rath Yatra', an outreach exercise by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party which is pitted against the Congress in the state. Modi said he was for a strong opposition in a healthy democracy, but a set of people had not only failed in the government but also as opposition. “Why is the Congress not fighting elections on facts? Why are they indulging in spreading lies?” he said, charging the opposition of avoiding discussion on issues related to development. “All they are interested is in telling lies, creating doubt and fear,” he said, accusing the opposition of “manufacturing lies". “You live in a world of lies,” he said. Modi said the Congress enjoyed “playing games” dividing Hindus and Muslims, the backward and the forward castes, and the rural and the urban. While the others believed in dividing society, the BJP is for uniting it, he said. The prime minister said his government worked on the principle of `Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (development for all). Modi said Congress leaders are busy serving one family, which is their high command. “They do not have time to come to state assembly to raise issues concerning the people of the state, and development issues,” he said. He also accused the party of playing “low-level” politics, criticising its leaders for questioning the Army's surgical strikes across the Line of Control two years ago and “insulting” Indian soldiers. The rally ended before the announcement of the polling dates for Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana. Rajasthan will go to the polls on December 7. Counting will take place in all five states on December 11, the Election Commission has announced. The prime minister said his government has fulfilled the promise of enhancing the minimum support price of farm produce. He also mentioned the increase in maternity leave and the government's decision to bring in a Bill in Parliament against triple talaq. “We are against any discrimination,” he said. Women, whether Hindus or Muslim, are equal, he added. He referred to the enactment of a law allowing death penalty to those convicted of raping children. Modi said his government had worked to provide electricity to every village in the country.PTI
