Wardha: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched a blistering attack on the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party accusing them of playing with Hindu sentiments. The PM said Congress had insulted all Hindus by coining the term ‘Hindu terrorism’.

“Hindus are known for peace and brotherhood. Nowhere in history, will you find they’re involved in subversive activities. Even the Britishers never mentioned them as terrorists. But former Congress minister Sushil Kumar Shinde (Solapur candidate) made a statement during the UPA regime that Hindu terrorists were behind the Samjhauta blast,” said Modi.

Modi’s comments come in the backdrop of the recent court verdict in the Samjhauta Express blast where all the accused were acquitted. The PM was speaking at a rally in Wardha, his first in Maharashtra for the forthcoming for Lok Sabha elections.

The PM started the speech in Marathi and paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Acharya Vinoba Bhave. While Gandhi stayed in Bapu Kuti in Sewagram for a long time, Bhave had made Paunar, near here, his home.

Addressing the nearly 60,000 crowd which thronged the Swawalambi Ground in Wardha in scorching temperatures, Modi said the Congress “needs to be taught a befitting lesson for insulting the community”. “The Hindus are well respected across the world for their peace loving attitude. The judiciary has exposed the Congress and citizens in the entire country will never pardon them. The Congress has realized this and therefore are running away.”

Taking a dig at NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Modi said the latter held PM aspirations but suddenly reality dawned upon him and he decided not to contest the LS polls. “NCP is witnessing a family feud and he is losing the party’s command to bhatija (Ajit Pawar). There is lot if infighting going on over distribution of tickets.”

The Congress-NCP alliance is like mythological demon ‘Kumbhakaran’ (Ramayana character who used to sleep for 6 months at a go). “Both used to look out for sources of money and gobbled up crores in irrigation, stamps, roads, real estates and wherever it was possible. One of their leaders (Ajit Pawar) had insulted farmers when questioned by a farmer on lack of water in dams. His comments were so derogatory that I can’t utter them from the stage.”

Modi reminded the citizens that on orders of Pawar police had opened firing on farmers in Maval. “Pawar is himself an agriculturist and was agriculture minister for a decade. Yet, farmers suicides hit all-time high during his tenure. Today he was clean bowled by the people and his bhatija would soon make him hit-wicket from the NCP’s chair,” he said.

Flaying the Opposition on Balakot air strikes, Modi said when entire world believed Indian’s action, the Opposition parties were asking for proof, thus questioning the armed forces’ credibility. “Their leaders questioning made those sitting in neighbouring nation happy. What do you want, Indian heroes or those who are admired in Pakistan? You want proof or you are proud of soldiers. Those who insulted the martyrs must be taught a hard lesson,” he said.

He said the BJP-Sena government would be making a new India and “this Chowkidar needs your blessings”. “A Congressman remarked if I was a chowkidar of women’s toilets. This is an insult to my mothers and sisters from villages who risk lives to go into deep jungles in the absence of toilets. I am proud that I am a chowkidar who’s available round the clock. They have insulted cleanliness advocated by the likes of Gandhi, Bhave and even Baba Amte and therefore deserve punishment. Ensure that opposition don’t win even a single seat,” he said.

Without mentioning his name, Modi took a jibe on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from Waynad in Kerala. “He has decided to contest from the place where minority are in majority as he knew that people wouldn’t spare him for insulting the Hindu community,” he said.

The PM heaped praises on ISRO scientists over the successful launch of PSLV C-45 into space carrying a payload of 12 satellites into the earth’s orbit. He said when the satellite was launched, very few selected used to witness the process. “We've have opened the doors for everyone. Thousands witnessed the launch.”

BJP’s Ramdas Tadas is seeking a re-election from Wardha. Along with him other BJP candidates, Hansraj Ahir (Chandrapur), Anand Adsul (Amravati) and Ashok Nete (Gadchiroli) were present on dais.

Kadam is up against Charulata Tokas of Congress who is the daughter of former minister and state party chief, the late Prabha Rao. “In 2014 the Prime Minister had addressed a public meeting in Wardha in which he had made a lot of promises. However, none of them have been fulfilled. Therefore this meeting too will not have any impact on voters here. Modi has been completely exposed,” Tokas told TOI.

