Cong keeps singing to Pak’s tune: PM
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday flagged Uniform Civil Code and ‘One Nation, One Election’ as two of the unfinished agendas of the BJP. He said serious discussions are taking place on them, and positive strides have been made.
Virtually addressing an event on the BJP’s 47th Foundation Day, Modi also said it was the BJP that first raised the issue of women’s reservation in 1994, while the current BJP-led Central government is fully committed to ensure that the Women’s Reservation Act — which would provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies — is implemented in the 2029 general elections.
Targeting the Congress, he said BJP workers endured many hardships — such as the Emergency and oppression — under the grand old party’s rule. Many BJP workers have even sacrificed their lives, he said, as witnessed in states like West Bengal and Kerala “where violence has been turned into a political culture”.
“Our mission is still ongoing. On Uniform Civil Code, ‘One Nation, One Election’ and other issues, serious discussions are taking place in the country, and we have achieved tremendous progress on those fronts,” he said.
Modi said the BJP aims to make the country developed and self-reliant, and it will continue to march in this direction.
Under the ‘One Nation, One Election’ system, the Modi government proposes to conduct simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The Uniform Civil Code seeks to create same set of laws for everyone across the country irrespective of religion, especially with regard to marriage, adoption, et cetera.
Modi said the BJP is sincerely striving to face every challenge.
“There are countless works that were the result of BJP’s honest efforts, such as ending hundreds of black laws from the British era, the construction of a new Parliament building, 10 per cent reservation for the poor in the general category, triple talaq ban, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the construction of Ayodhya Ram temple,” he said.
The prime minister said it was the BJP that had proposed women’s reservation for the first time in 1994 in Vadodara.
“We had also decided that we would encourage women in our party organisation as far as possible. When we came to power, we fulfilled that promise. Now we are fully dedicated to ensuring that the Nari Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act) is implemented in the 2029 general elections,” he said.
Referring to the ongoing West Asia conflict, Modi said the BJP believes in the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) even in times of war.
He said there was a time when India took pride in maintaining equal distance from every country, but now it is moving ahead by keeping close relations with each country.
Highlighting that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has completed 25 years of existence, Modi said it is the only coalition that has been working for the interests of the country and the welfare of its people.
“The BJP has set an example in coalition politics. The consistent expansion of the NDA is proof that it is an all-inclusive coalition. It works by prioritising regional aspirations,” he said.
Modi said people have seen dynastic politics, which is still prevalent in some parts of the country, and the Left governance model, but the BJP’s governance model is unique.
“Under our governance model, policies and governments are stable,” he said.
Modi said the BJP has its own agenda and aims, and besides handling the current crisis, the party-led government is preparing the country for the future.
“Works are ongoing on issues such as the demographic change, infiltration, corruption, dynastic politics, and freeing people from the slave mentality. The BJP has to make the country free from all these challenges. This responsibility can be fulfilled only by the BJP,” he said.
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 (which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir) in 2019, Modi said that for decades, the law was a hurdle in fully integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.
“People thought it was impossible to scrap Article 370, but we had promised to abrogate it. We have completed the task,” he said.
Modi said the BJP has been maintaining a consistent stand on issues like national security and terrorism, and now new technologies are being installed for border security, the border villages are being developed, and the backbone of Naxals has been crushed.
He said that under the “vast and sacred banyan tree” of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the BJP was inspired to step into politics with good intentions and integrity.
“In the initial few decades, we devoted our energy to setting policies for the organisation,” he said.
He added that the party cannot forget that in 1984, the Congress won a record number of seats, but the country also witnessed how they betrayed the people.
“This increased people’s trust in the BJP, and slowly we began to win seats. At that time, two types of political ideologies existed: one was power-driven, and the other was service-oriented. The politics that prioritised power gradually declined, and service-oriented politics gained massive public support. Today, we are proud that through our conduct, we have established a new principle in Indian politics: the principle of nation first,” he said.
Earlier, in an X post, Modi greeted BJP workers on the party’s foundation day.
The BJP was formed on April 6, 1980.
“Our party has always been at the forefront of serving society, guided by the principle of India First. Our ‘karyakartas’ are known for their selfless service, unwavering dedication and a deep passion towards good governance. They have worked tirelessly at the grassroots, ensuring maximum people are connected to our ideology and work. We also remember the countless workers whose dedication, sacrifice and perseverance have shaped the party’s growth over decades,” he said.
He said the BJP stands as a party that places the well-being of people at the centre of its vision, and this is reflected in the work at the Centre and in various states.
“BJP remains committed to building a Viksit Bharat. May our collective resolve continue to drive this vision forward and take India to new heights of progress and prosperity,” he said.
Meanwhile, PM Modi on Monday said that while his government carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Congress continued to “sing to the tune of” Pakistan.
Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Barpeta, Hojai and Dibrugarh in Assam, Modi also accused the Congress of taking a myopic view on development, while asserting that the BJP focuses on long-term growth.
“The party always took short-term measures so that they could indulge in corruption. But the BJP looks far ahead while taking decisions for all-around development of all sections of society,” he said.
The PM alleged that during the 2016 surgical strikes or the 2025 ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Congress has always sung to Pakistan’s tune, giving importance to their agenda.
“This Pakistan connection always weighs heavily on the country, and we can never allow that,” he said.
Modi also accused the Congress of neglecting the Army by refusing to implement the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ for the veterans for decades.
“But the BJP government ensured that justice was done to those who protect the nation by giving them this benefit,” he said, adding that so far, Rs 1.24 lakh crore has been disbursed to the bank accounts of veterans.
Modi accused the Gandhi family of indulging in dynastic politics and corruption.
“The first family of Congress is the most corrupt in the country, indulging in scams of huge proportions and is currently out on bail. The Congress can do only two things — tell lies and indulge in corruption,” he alleged.
In an apparent swipe at Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s “mohabbat ki dukaan” pitch, Modi said the Congress represents “mithya ki dukaan” (shop of lies) and “apmaan” (insult).
“There is another family in Assam… and both are making false promises ahead of the polls,” he said, in an apparent reference to Gandhi’s deputy in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, who is also the president of the party’s state unit.
The PM also accused the Gandhi family of occupying land in prime locations of Delhi.
“The Congress alleges that the BJP acquires land from people, but they don’t talk about the prime lands in Delhi with them in the name of National Herald, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and others,” he said.
Modi said the BJP acquired land for the state’s development, which has benefited all sections of society.
“They are now talking about land as it (land) has shifted from beneath their feet,” he claimed.
Referring to the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) at Moran, the PM said that earlier, the road conditions were such that even vehicles had difficulty in plying, but now fighter jets can land on a highway in Assam.
Modi alleged that the Congress adopted a stepmotherly attitude towards the state and neglected Upper Assam and the Barak Valley.
“The Congress did nothing for the tea garden workers, but the BJP government gave them land rights for their homes,” he claimed.
“During my last visit to Dibrugarh, I had interacted with women tea garden workers, but to insult me, they made fun of their dress and culture,” he alleged.
The PM alleged Congress only helped infiltrators for vote bank politics, and allowed them to settle on the land belonging to ‘sattras’, temples, tribal communities, besides the Kaziranga National Park.
“It is the BJP that is freeing these lands from the encroachers and also giving land rights to the indigenous people of Assam,” he said.
Asserting that people’s aspirations are the BJP’s priority, Modi said, “The Congress is in power in Himachal, Karnataka and Telangana; they made tall promises before the polls, but what have they done so far?”
Referring to the West Asia conflict, Modi said the government is working to shield citizens, especially the poor, middle class and farmers, from its impact.
“It has been the BJP’s priority since the beginning to focus on minimising their sufferings, and this will continue,” he said.
Modi said peace was re-established in Assam after a lot of sacrifices, and this has led to the state’s development under the BJP rule.
“To continue development, it is necessary to keep the Congress out,” he claimed.
Modi said the 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament would be implemented from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
“A special session of Parliament has been convened on April 16 to discuss the issue with all parties and take this forward. But some people are trying to spread rumours even about this,” he said.
“All states in the country will benefit from this. They have waited 40 years for this, and women in Assam should urge all parties to ensure the bill’s passage,” he said.
Listing the various works done by his government, Modi said the minimum support price for paddy has increased from Rs 1,300 per quintal in 2013 to Rs 2,370 per quintal at present.
“Farmers’ income is increasing, and the BJP government is transferring money directly to their bank accounts, bypassing middlemen,” he said, noting that Assam’s famed ‘Joha’ rice is now being exported to European countries.
Polling for the 126 assembly constituencies in Assam will be held on April 9, while counting of votes will take place on May 4.
