Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a public meeting ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Agra on April 25, 2024. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is also seen. | Photo source: PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 25 said that the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance in Uttar Pradesh was based on “appeasement politics” and its leaders wanted to snatch OBC rights through the back door.
Addressing an election rally in Agra, the Prime Minister repeated allegations against the Congress of “redistributing” wealth and even depriving people of their inheritance.
“They keep an eye on the savings of their mothers and sisters. But I am your guardian who will make mothers and sisters maintain their claim to their property,” Modi said, referring to the term “chowkidar” that he has used to refer to himself in the past.
He said the Constitution does not allow reservation on the basis of religion. “But Congress is insulting the Constitution by advocating this. “The Congress is determined to rob the OBC (other backward classes) quota to ensure reservation on the basis of religion,” Modi said.
“The politics of appeasement has divided the country, but we are ending with ‘tushtikaran’ (appeasement) and working towards ‘santushtikaran’ (satisfying the people),” he added.
He attacked the opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh, indirectly referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.
“The friendship between the two UP boys is based on the politics of appeasement,” he said.
“Both of them talk about OBCs in their speeches, but they want to take away their rights through the back door and strengthen their (own) vote bank,” he said.
“Zindagi Ke Saath Bhi, Zindagi Ke Baad Bhi” – Mr. Modi said, suggesting that the Congress wants to introduce an inheritance tax.
Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Piroda sparked controversy on Wednesday with his remarks about US inheritance laws, adding to the political storm over Modi’s allegation that the Congress was planning to “redistribute” people’s wealth.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi’s earlier remarks, Modi said the Congress would conduct a “scan” of citizens’ assets.
Modi said everyone should benefit from government schemes, adding that this was a “saturation” model for the BJP.
He said his government is working on how to return to citizens the money looted by the corrupt.
He said that the Congress in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh and in its manifesto has repeatedly advocated reservations on the basis of religion, even though the constitution prohibits it.
“Everything Congress has done on this issue has been rejected by the nation’s judiciary, so now Congress has started playing this game through the back door,” he said.
“Now the Indian alliance people are also saying that they will plunder what you inherit. The Congress alliance announced that 55 percent, or more than half of it, would be taken over by the government. The remaining amount will go to you,” he said.
He sought votes for BJP’s Agra candidate SP Singh Baghel and Fatehpuri candidate Sikri Rajkumar Chahar.
Polling for the third phase of the Lok Sabha elections will be held on May 7 in both the constituencies.
