Accusing the Congress of dividing the people on the grounds of caste, class, region and religion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the party was indulging in appeasement and “vote-bank politics” and working with a “narrow vision” to serve the interests of a single family which it treated as its high command.
“My high command comprises the 7.5 crore people of Rajasthan who will bring the BJP back to power,” Mr. Modi said while addressing a huge rally here which marked the completion of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje’s Gaurav Yatra. The gathering, named “Vijay Sankalp Rally”, was attended by the BJP’s booth-level workers and the public from Ajmer and nearby towns.
The rally was organised just two hours ahead of the announcement of dates of the Assembly elections in Rajasthan and four other States by the Election Commission.
Mr. Modi said the vote-bank politics had even divided the bureaucracy, which tries to please the ruling party. “For 60 years, the Congress has adopted this model of governance, fomenting confrontation between different sections and promoting divisive tendencies in society. It has worked only for those communities which vote for it,” he said.
Even the budget was allocated to play vote-bank politics for the benefit of a few sections, Mr. Modi said and added that those who had failed in governance while being in power had also utterly failed in playing the role of a responsible Opposition.
“After 60 years, the country is heading in the right direction. Our policy is clear, our dedication is unmatched and our intentions cannot be questioned. Don’t give another chance to the Congress, which has only created difficulties for the country,” Mr. Modi said.
‘Stooped low’
Mr. Modi said the Congress had stooped low by playing “dirty politics” on surgical strikes by the Army across the Line of Control two years ago. “They raised doubts about the brave act of our soldiers. They should be ashamed of indulging in such politics, when our youth are getting inspiration from surgical strikes on their [second] anniversary,” he said.
Just before the enforcement of the model code of conduct with the announcement of election dates, Ms. Raje announced a package of free electricity for farmers up to a certain level. While Ms. Raje sought the national project status for the Eastern Rajasthan Canal Project, which will benefit 13 districts, Mr. Modi said the decision would be taken after technical studies.
