Congress stopping him from hailing 'Bharat Mata': Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday alleged that the Congress party is trying to stop him from raising "Bharat Mata ki jai' slogan in election rallies.

Addressing a rally here, Modi said the Congress party's "naamdar" (an allusion to Congress President Rahul Gandhi) has issued a "fatwa" against him to stop him from saying "Bharat Mata ki jai".

Modi raised the slogans multiple times before he began his speech.

"Who are they (Congress) to stop the youth of this country from hailing Bharat Mata? Soldiers did surgical strikes (across LoC) saying Bharat Mata ki jai. How dare naamdar stops me from uttering it?" Modi said.

Earlier, addressing an election rally at Jhunjhunu in Rajasthan, Gandhi said Modi shouts "Bharat Mata ki jai" in every rally but it sounds "hollow" coming from him.

He said Modi does not talk about the issues of farmers, women and youth -- who comprise "Bharat Mata" - and only raises slogans.

At Sikar, Modi commented on the ongoing leadership rift in the Congress state unit and said that the party is "dreaming" to win Rajasthan considering it to be a swing state.

"When a mediaperson asked Ashok Gehlot as to who would be the Chief Minister if Congress comes to power, he said 'Kaun banega crorepati'. Do you dream of becoming a crorepati on getting the chief ministership? This shows their real intentions," Modi said.

He further claimed that Congress has been insulting soldiers by asking for proof of the surgical strike.

"The Congress party has humiliated the jawans of this country. Soon after the success of surgical strikes, when the nation was rejoicing, there was a mourning inside the Congress headquarters. While Pakistan came to know of the surgical strikes, those who gave birth to Pakistan failed to believe this accomplishment," he added.

Speaking on One Rank, One pension (OROP) he said the kin of soldiers were demanding OROP for the last 40 years, but no one lent an ear to their demands.

"It was only after our government came to power that we disbursed Rs 600 crore for resolving the OROP issue," he said.

Modi also slammed the Congress on its claims on farm loan waivers.

He expressed his annoyance with a Congress veteran allegedly comparing the Army chief with a "sadak chhaap goonda" (a goon).

He lauded Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's efforts for improving the sex ratio in Sikar and Jhunjhunu.

--IANS

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