PM Modi’s fresh salvo at Congress: Not much expected from party that sides with enemy

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, while speaking at a rally in Raebareli, attacked the Congress for its attitude towards the Indian Army. He accused the Opposition of “standing with forces that are against the strengthening of the Army”.

“Country will neither forget nor forgive previous government’s attitude towards Army,” he said. 

The Prime Minister also added that for the BJP, the country comes first and they are trying their best to relive the Army from any difficulty. 

“We are trying our best that those who sacrifice their lives for us shouldn’t face any difficulties,” Modi added. 

Lashing out at the Congress, the Prime Minister said the fact that members of the party questioned the surgical strikes and trust enemy’s claim more than the Indian Army, nothing can be expected of them. 

“Today there are 2 sides before the country. One side is the govt that is trying to strengthen our forces. The other side that wants to weaken our forces at any cost. The country is witness that Congress is standing with forces that don’t want our forces to strengthen,” said Modi. 

आज देश के सामने दो पक्ष हैं।

एक पक्ष सरकार का, जो हर तरह से कोशिश कर रही है कि हमारी सेना की ताकत बढ़े। दूसरा पक्ष उन ताकतों का है, जो किसी भी कीमत पर देश को कमजोर करना हैं।

देश देख रहा है कि कांग्रेस उन ताकतों के साथ खड़ी है जो हमारी सेनाओं को मजबूत नहीं होने देना चाहतीं: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 16, 2018

The Prime Minister also increased pressure on the Opposition over issues like the Rafale deal and farmers distress. 

By quoting the Ram Charit Manas, Modi accused the Congress of spreading lies for personal gains. He also accused the latter of compromising national security.

ऐसे लोगों के लिए देश का रक्षा मंत्रालय भी झूठा है,

देश की रक्षा मंत्री भी झूठी हैं,

भारतीय वायुसेना के अफसर भी झूठे हैं,

फ्रांस की सरकार भी झूठी है,

अब तो उन्हें देश की सर्वोच्च अदालत भी झूठी लगने लगी है: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) December 16, 2018

On the farmers’ issue, the Prime Minister said that the Congress didn’t fulfill its promise to Karnataka farmers. 

“They promised loan waivers, but according to a recent report not even 1000 farmers got this benefit in over 6 months,” said Modi.

Prime Minister Modi attacking the Congress on the agrarian issue was significant as the Rahul Gandhi-led party had come to power in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh on the promise of writing off a huge amount of farm loans. This is estimated to cost the Congress governments in these states thousand of crores of rupees. But highlighting the mismatch between claim and reality in Karnataka where the Congress is part of the government, Modi launched a blistering offensive on the Congress over an issue that is perceived to be the main reason for the Congress snatching the three crucial states away from the BJP.

The Prime Minister, who visited Uttar Pradesh to inspect the Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli, is also expected to visit Prayagraj to inaugurate a command and control centre for the Kumbh Mela and perform Ganga Puja.