Blinded by anti-Modi sentiment, Cong stopped thinking in nation's interest: PM

The Congress is blinded by its "anti-Modi approach" and has stopped thinking in the nation's interest, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here Thursday, raising issues of national security and terrorism and questioning the party's statements following the Balakot strike.

Addressing a rally in Akhnoor on the outskirts of Jammu, his first in the state after national elections were announced on March 10, Modi claimed the speeches of Congress leaders receive applause in Pakistan.

The prime minister began his speech by greeting people in the local Dogri language and went to exhort them to vote for his party's Jammu-Poonch candidate Jugal Kishore.

Modi said he was surprised at the Congress' reaction to his government's endeavour to teach a lesson to the enemies of the country.

"What has happened to the Congress party....the anti-Modi approach adopted by them has blinded them to the extent that they have stopped thinking in the interest of the nation," Modi said.

When India conducted the air strike in Balakot on February 27, Congress leaders came out with statements which were not in favour of the country, he said.

"Is it the same Sardar Patel's Congress who spent day and night for the unity and integrity of the country? I fail to understand if this is the Congress party of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose who saw the dream of an independent India," the PM said. "My soul is saying it is not."