lok-sabha-elections

Updated: Apr 27, 2020 21:14 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Congress saying the party leadership has “special love” for those who talk about “boti-boti” (cutting into pieces). PM Modi was referring to Congress leader Imran Masood’s hate speech of 2014 for which he had been jailed ahead of the last Lok Sabha elections.

“The Opposition threatens us with ‘boti-boti’ (cutting into pieces) and we talk of ensuring honour of ‘beti-beti’ (daughters),” he said at an election rally in Saharanpur in western Uttar Pradesh.

“The one who talks about chopping into pieces is here (in Saharanpur Lok Sabha constituency). Shehzaada (a reference PM Modi has used for Rahul Gandhi in the past) of the Congress has special love for him…Do remember, they focus on boti-boti (chopping) and we are for the honour and safety of daughters,” he said.

Masood is the Congress candidate from Saharanpur Lok Sabha seat. In the run up to 2014 Lok Sabha polls, a video of Masood had gone viral in which he could be heard using objectionable language for the then Gujarat chief minister and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate. The Congress had distanced itself from Masood’s hate speech.

“The Opposition’s only agenda is ‘Modi Hatao’ (remove Modi). Their only intention is to promote ‘vansvaad’ (dynastic politics),” PM Modi said adding, “The Congress mocks my efforts calling me a chowkidar (watchman) of toilets. But this also an honour for me.”

‘Terrorists know Modi will teach them a lesson’

Earlier at another election rally at Amroha, PM Modi hit out at the Congress and the BSP-SP grand-alliance in Uttar Pradesh saying “soft approach” adopted by these parties towards terror emboldened the perpetrators in the past.

“The soft approach adopted by these parties have not only helped the terrorists but also put your life and future in danger…Due to vote bank politics, Bua and Babua (a reference often used by him to target Samajwadi President Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati) used to set free the perpetrators of terror attacks,” PM Modi said at his public rally in western Uttar Pradesh.

PM Modi said peace has been restored in the last five years. “Terrorists now know that if they did something, Modi will teach them a lesson even if they hide in paataal (deep hole),” the prime minister said.

Without mentioning about the Balakot air strike in Pakistan or Pulwama terror attack leaving 40 CRPF jawans dead, PM Modi said, “Should I have gone silent or launched strike after terror attack? Some people start crying when India enters the homes of terrorists and launches strike against them.”

“When Pakistan is being cornered in the world, these people are trying to become hero in that country,” he said upping ante against the Opposition party leaders who sought clarification from the government amid conflicting reports in the international media over operation conducted by the Indian Air Force at a terror camp in Pakistan.

‘Dalit’ In PM Modi’s Speech

The prime minister targeted the Congress accusing it of neglecting the Dalits and the leaders from the community. “The Congress, to give priority to one family, even tried everything to defeat BR Ambedkar. The Congress has started speaking about BR Ambedkar now due to compulsions of vote bank,” PM Modi said.

“The Congress dive not give credit to Babu Jagjivan Ram when India gave befitting reply to Pakistan in 1971 war even though he was the defence minister at the time,” he said suggesting that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was praised for the decisive military action at the cost of the former Dalit leader.

Dalits constitute about 21 per cent of Uttar Pradesh’s population. The state goes to vote in all seven phases of the Lok Sabha polls between April 11 and May 19. Eight Lok Sabha seats in western Uttar Pradesh will go to polls in the first phase. Amroha, the venue of the PM Modi’s rally, votes on April 18, the second phase of the national election.