With the IPL and general elections going on in the country simultaneously, PM Narendra Modi has hit out at the Congress saying they couldn't ensure security and shifted "India's favourite" tournament out of the country on two occasions.

Speaking at a rally in Rajasthan's Karauli, PM Modi said, "The youth takes a lot of interest in IPL. But there were two occasions when it could not be played in India and it was played in South Africa. This happened in 2009 and 2014. The government at the Centre was so scared of terrorists. That government had no courage."

PM Modi added, "In 2009 and 2014 they said there's election. Police is busy so we cannot have IPL. Elections are going on even now. There was Navratri, Ramnavmi and Hanuman Jayanti too. Ramzan will be here soon. But IPL is going on in the country."

"Ye poonch daba ke bhaagne waali sarkar mein the, Modi seena taan ke jata hai (It was a government that was scared while Modi is here standing tall)," PM Modi said.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) was shifted out of the country in 2009 over security reasons as the Election Commission said that the country did not have enough forces to provide security for the elections and also hold the tournament simultaneously.

A few of the matches in the 2014 season were also shifted out as the tournament against clashed with the Lok Sabha elections.

As the IPL enters the final days in its twelfth season, PM Modi has invoked the tournament to attack the Congress and the former UPA government.

IPL is massively popular among cricket lovers as the tournament engages top cricketers from across the world to play for its eight teams.