Modi slams Congress on Article 370, questions party's chemistry with Pakistan

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (October 18) lashed out at the Congress over its stand on Article 370, saying the party’s statements are being used by Pakistan against India.

He also questioned the grand old party’s chemistry with the neighboring country.

Addressing a rally in Haryana ahead of assembly polls, Modi said parties like the Congress can neither understand sentiments of people nor respect sacrifices made by brave jawans.

“Should I take decisions in national interest or not, should national interest be above politics or not? But the Congress is not able to understand this feeling of people of Sonipat and people of Haryana,” Modi asked the gathering.

Making a stinging attack on the Congress, he said the party is in “pain” since August 5 when the Centre decided to abrogate special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Do you recall what happened on August 5? On that day such a thing happened which no one could have imagined, about which in a way the country had given up hope. On August 5, Indias Constitution in entirety became applicable in J&K. For 70 years, what was stumbling block in development of J&K and Ladakh, we removed that.

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But since then Congress and parties like them are in a pain that no medicine is able to cure. Congress ke pet mein dard Congress ki la ilaaj bemari ban gaya hai, he said.

And Congress is suffering from such a disease that when we talk of Swachh India, surgical strike, they have a problem and if anyone takes Balakots name, their pain increases, he said.

He said statements made by Congress leaders on scrapping Article 370 are being used by Pakistan.

Now, the country knows why Congress goes through this pain, for whose sympathy, for whom it is. You have seen the statements Congress leaders made on Kashmir are helping whom, who is taking benefit of such statements and where these are used.

Do you know who is taking benefit of these,? said Modi and when the crowds replied Pakistan, Modi told them you are correct.

Now, Congress should reply why they are making such statements which are being liked by Pakistan. They should muster courage to say something which is liked by people of India (by supporting scrapping of the Article), he said.

He said false claims, statements and language are used by the Congress to corner him and Pakistan is using these in the world to make its case strong.

What kind of chemistry is this with Pakistan, whose chemistry is this and for whom. In these polls, you will have to find an answer to this, he said.

“I tell Congress that they can oppose Modi, can make as many accusations and speak as much lies they want, he said, adding as long as he has the peoples blessings, it was not going to affect him.

Whatever good or bad you have to say about Modi, do that, but at least respect Ma Bharti. Dont cross the limits in the manner which causes harm to the country, he said.

Modi also said within the Congress, those who were strongly against scrapping of Article 370, this group is coming forward to take Haryanas charge.

Congress is neither concerned about unity of India nor the Constitution given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar. Those who are not worried about Maa Bharti and the soil, and dignity of the Constitution, should Haryana show any concern for them. Should they be punished or not.

Also read: BJP releases Haryana poll manifesto; promises interest free crop loan

“In these elections, you send them back packing and ask them to relax. They destroyed the country a lot, he said.

Gohana falls in Sonipat district, which is considered as a stronghold of former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Out of six assembly segments in Sonipat, five are represented by Congress MLAs and one BJP. From Baroda here, the BJP this time has fielded wrestler-turned-politician Yogeshwar Dutt.

However, both Hooda and his son Deepender Singh Hooda lost the Lok Sabha polls from Sonipat and Rohtak parliamentary constituencies, respectively and Modi took a veiled dig at them, telling people “You broke arrogance of big leaders in Lok Sabha polls.

The prime minister also referred to Sonipat as land of “kisan, jawans and pehalwans” — trishaktis which are contributing in nation building.

In a veiled attack on Hooda, he said, Those who were thinking that Sonipat, Rohtak and Jind are their bastions, people gave their verdict (in LS polls).

The BJP had won all 10 Lok Sabha seats from Haryana.

For those in public life, people of Haryana gave a lesson. Without peoples blessings not even a leaf can move, but those who think they are Shenshah and when their arrogance reaches Cloud 9, then they meet the same fate, he said.

Apparently referring to the violence that broke out during the Jat quota reservation stir three years ago in Haryana, Modi said those who spoiled brotherhood were taught a lesson.

You showed in democracy that people are supreme and their wishes are above all, he said.

Modi also said the Khattar government has ended the Kharchi and Parchi wala Congress culture (corruption and favouritism) and has given a clean and transparent regime.

Under Congress, interest of jawans, farmers and sportsmen were not safe. They grew crop of corruption on land of farmers and in sports, they harvested produce of scams, he alleged.

In another rally today, Modi said Congress has already accepted defeat in Haryana elections.

Modi also attacked Dushyant Chautala led Jannayak Janta Party, saying the people of Haryana have rejected its politics and strategy.

(With inputs from agencies)