PM invokes Ram Manohar Lohia to hit out at Opposition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday invoked socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia to launch an attack on the Opposition including the Rahul Gandhi-led Congress which are making efforts to form a united front against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-led coalition in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.

In his blog titled "Remembering Dr. Lohia", Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote, "Dr Lohia would be horrified at the political developments taking place...Those parties that falsely claim to be Dr Lohia's followers are desperate to form an opportunistic Maha Milawat or adulteration alliances with the same Congress. It is both ironical and reprehensible."

"Whenever Dr Lohia spoke, inside or outside Parliament, the Congress trembled with fear," he added recalling Lohia on his birth anniversary.

Dubbing the main Opposition "disastrous", the Prime Minister quoted Lohi as saying, "During the Congress regime neither agriculture and industry nor the army has improved."

The Prime Minister stated his government was following Lohia's thoughts and ideals by introducing programmes such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Krishi Sinchai Yojana, e-Nam, Soil Health Cards and many more.

"Nothing pained Dr Lohia more than the caste hierarchy and inequality between women and men. Our Mantra of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' as well as our track record in the last five years show that we have made a long-lasting contribution in fulfilling the vision of Dr Lohia. He would surely have been very proud of the NDA Government's work," Modi said.

In his concluding remark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exclaimed that 130 crore Indians face a moot question today, which he said was, "How can those who betrayed Dr Lohia be expected to serve the nation?"

"Today they are betraying the principles of Dr Lohia, tomorrow they will also betray the people of India," wrote Prime Minister Modi.