NEW DELHI: Attacking the opposition on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he will obstruct all attempts by the
INDIA bloc
to allegedly deprive Dalits and backward classes of their reservations, accusing the bloc of “enslavement” and performing “mujra” for Muslim
vote bank
.
Addressing supporters in Pataliputra Lok Sabha constituency,
PM Modi
criticized opposition parties including the RJD and Congress, claiming they were responsible for scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs), and other backward classes (OBCs) being denied quotas in minority institutions.
“Bihar is the land which has given a new direction to the fight for social justice. I wish to declare on its soil that I will foil the plans of INDIA bloc to rob SCs, STs and OBCs of their rights and divert these to Muslims. They may remain enslaved and perform ‘mujra’ to please their vote bank”, PM Modi said addressing the rally.
PM Modi also accused the opposition of relying on those engaging in “vote jihad,” referring to a Calcutta high court decision that overturned the West Bengal government’s move to include certain Muslim groups in the OBC list.
Campaigning for BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav, PM Modi said, “Many people have such a quarrel with Lord Ram that they may frown upon even the name of Ram Kripal.”
Referring to a local sweet, “Maner Ka laddoo,” PM told the crowd, “Have these ready for June 4. Your vote is significant. It is not just to elect your MP but to choose your PM.”
PM Modi also criticized RJD chief Lalu Prasad without naming him and said, “in the age of LED bulbs, they are moving around with a lantern that lit up only their house while keeping the entire Bihar in the dark”.
He added that India needs a Prime Minister who can assert the country’s strength on the world stage, while accusing the INDIA bloc of being focused on playing “musical chairs” with the top post. PM Modi claimed that the scions of families heading Congress, RJD, NCP, Samajwadi Party, and others were all vying for brief tenures as Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister promised that his next five years in power would bring faster development to Bihar, with better electricity supply and more pucca houses. He criticized the previous Congress-led UPA government for lacking the resolve to provide free food grains to the common people.
(With agency inputs)