Modi in Bihar: Congress will snatch reservation from ST, SC, OBC, give it to 'vote jihadists'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday (May 21) alleged that the INDIA bloc represented corruption, appeasement politics and a "perverted anti-Sanatana mindset," all of which would receive a "big blow" when the Lok Sabha poll results are announced on June 4.

Addressing an election rally in the East Champaran Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar, Modi also took potshots at leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav and Tejashwi Yadav, who he said were "born with silver spoons".

“The nation cannot move forward with the sins of the INDIA bloc, which stands for corruption, appeasement politics, represents the 'tukde-tukde' gang and a perverted mindset that heaps scorn on Sanatana Dharma," he said.

"This is the reason why the INDIA bloc was exhausted in the very first phase of the elections. In the subsequent phases, it was battered. In the remaining two phases, the trend will continue and on June 4 when votes are counted, the results will come as a big blow to the intentions of the opposition alliance," he claimed.

‘Congress wants to change Constitution’

The prime minister reiterated his allegations that the Congress wants to change the Constitution to "snatch" reservations from SCs, STs and OBCs, and hand it over to those who practised "vote jihad".

"If Ambedkar was not there, Nehru would not have allowed reservation for SCs and STs," he claimed.

Modi also bristled at the opposition parties' criticism of welfare schemes run by his government, claiming his opponents had "bundles of notes stashed away in Swiss banks" and could not understand the plight of the common people "the way I do, having been born in a poor family".

"They were opening accounts in Swiss banks, while the people of India were starving," he alleged.

‘Waaris of jungle raj’ swipe at Tejashwi

In an apparent dig at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, Modi said, "I am told that the 'waaris of jungle raj' has been saying I will be advised bed rest after the Lok Sabha elections. The 'shehzada' of Congress says he wants to see me in tears. His party openly chants slogans like 'Modi teri kabr khudegi' (your grave will be dug). These people have a counterpart in Uttar Pradesh (an allusion to Akhilesh Yadav) who says I have reached the end of my life and hence contesting from Varanasi," said Modi, adding that the remarks betrayed a lack of sensitivity on the part of those "born with silver spoons, who have never known what is a life filled with struggles".

In his speech, Modi also made a reference to the much-talked-about feast Rahul had enjoyed at Lalu Prasad’s residence last year.

"Those who refused the invitation to the consecration of Ram temple in Ayodhya had no problems in sharing a meal with the corrupt," he said.

Modi also referred to East Champaran as Mahatma Gandhi's "karma bhoomi" and his own roots in Gujarat "the janmabhoomi (place of birth)".

"The Congress betrayed his ideals upon coming to power and devoted itself to promoting the interests of one family," he alleged.

"I have spent my first 10 years in power filling the potholes left by the Congress. I intend to speed up progress in the next term," said Modi as he spoke about his thrust on welfare measures like toilets for women "who had to suffer physical ailments because of the absence of this very basic of all amenities".

(With inputs from agencies)