Prime Minister Narendra Modi stepped up his attack on the opposition Congress on the second day of his campaign in poll-bound Maharashtra as he accused the grand old party of creating divide among various castes.
In a scathing remark, Modi said the Congress gets strengthened when the country weakens.
"Congress is well aware. Jab Congress mazboot hogi, desh majboor ho jaega. Congress creates a divide between various castes. It never let our castes unite,” he alleged, addressing a rally in Akola.
The prime minister further charged that the opposition party will take advantage of the situation if various castes do not stay united. “This is their conspiracy and character. You have to stay aware. Remember, 'Ek hai toh safe hai," he said.
Modi attacks Congress’s ‘divisive’ politics, says ‘ek hain toh safe hain’
Modi also targeted the Gandhi family, saying wherever the Congress forms government, those state become an ATM for the “royal family”.
“These days, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telangana have become their ATMs. In the name of elections in Maharashtra, they have looted Rs 700 crores from liquor sellers in Karnataka,” he alleged.
Noting that Maharashtra has consistently supported the BJP since 2014, the prime minister attributed this to the party’s “patriotism, political insight, and vision of the people”.
“There is a reason behind Maharashtra's trust in the BJP. The reason for this is the patriotism, political understanding and vision of the people of Maharashtra," he said.
Modi hit the campaign trail in the politically crucial state on Friday when he addressed two public meetings in Dhule and Nashik. In those rallies, too, the prime minister accused the Congress of creating rift among communities by pitting one caste against another.
“The sole agenda of the Congress party is to make one caste fight against another. They do not want SCs, STs and OBCs to progress and get their due recognition Remember, ek hai toh safe hai,” he said
Polling to 288-member Maharashtra Assembly will be held on November 20 and the votes will be counted on November 23. In 2019 elections, the BJP had become the single largest party by bagging 105 seats.