Opposition parties reacts to PM Modi's Azamgarh speech

The opposition parties on Saturday cornered Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his speech at Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh while laying the foundation stone for Purvanchal Expressway.

They accused him of resorting to foul means to gain political advantage.

Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is inauguratng several projects in Uttar Pradesh solely to gain electoral benefit

"BJP government has started inaugurating projects in Uttar Pradesh only now when general elections are near. Prime Minister has laid the foundation stone of Purvanchal Expressway today. Had they done this in 2014 itself, then instead of laying foundation stone today he would have been inaugurating it," she said.

Ghanshyam Tiwari of Samajwadi Party (SP) also criticised the Prime Minister and said he gave 'tooti-footi Vikas' (incomplete developement) to the country and the states, where the BJP is ruling.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader D Raja accused the Prime Minister of denigrating the dignity of the Prime Minister of the country.

"The Prime Minister should show some dignity and should rise above petty considerations," he said.

Congress leader Salman Khurshid took a jibe at PM Modi, saying that he is astonished that he even reads newspapers.

The attack came after the Prime Minister mentioned a news report that quoted Rahul Gandhi saying that the Congress is a Muslim Party, even after the party rubbished the news report.

"I am astonished that Prime Minister reads newspapers, that too Urdu papers. I would like to know from where he learned Urdu," he said.

While addressing a rally at Uttar Pradesh's Azamgarh, attacking the Opposition, the Prime Minister said while the Centre is trying their best for the welfare and development of Muslim women, the Opposition is resisting efforts of the Centre.

He even accused the opposition of trying to cause hindrance to the development of the backward class.

"For their political gain, the Opposition is trying to prevent the development of the backward class. They know if the Dalits, the poor and the other backward classes are empowered, their 'business' will shut down," he said.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the Prime Minister, afraid of defeat in the upcoming general elections, is spreading hatred and fear in the society.

"Undermining the position of the Prime Minister, Modiji has been caught spreading false rumours about Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi. But he should know that the descendants of Godse's ideology can never defeat Gandhi's ideology. The people want to know when black money come back to the country, when will fuel prices go down and when will 'acche din' come? But it seems that 'acche din' will only come when Modi will be voted out of power," he said.