Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad for his remarks that the BJP’s leaders are allegedly attempting to change the Constitution. While addressing a public meeting at Gandhi Maidan in Gaya on April 16, Mr. Modi said that neither Modi nor Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or even Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar can change the Constitution of India.
Mr. Modi’s statement came a day after Mr. Prasad issued the statement that the Prime Minister must take action against those leaders who are talking about changing the constitution.
Without naming the RJD leader and former Chief Minister, Mr. Modi accused him of spreading lies. “Those who want to use the Constitution as their political weapon, they must listen to me very carefully with ears open that for the past three decades you presented several distorted stories to threatened and frightened people. There was a time when you used to say that if BJP and RSS comes to power, the country will burn. From the time of Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji, we ruled in several States and gave the most peaceful regime. Whenever BJP goes ahead, they use the Constitution as their weapon and playing the same old record for past 25 to 30 year,“ Mr. Modi said
Also read | Lok Sabha 2024: Water crisis in Bihar’s Gaya remains major concern for voters
He further said, “They spread lies that we will change the constitution. Brothers and sisters, you can note down that neither Modi nor the BJP, even Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, cannot change this Constitution. I ask them to stop spreading lies. Those who abuse Sanatana dharma must know that the 80 to 90% of members of the Constituent Assembly which drafted the Constitution were Sanatani.”
Mr. Modi accused RJD of politicising the Constitution, whereas the BJP always treated it with devotion and faith. He also said that there should not be any place for such people in public life who use the Constitution only as a tool of politics. He asked the people to make such people silent forever by voting for the NDA.
He asserted that the people of the country want to give the BJP more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha to punish those who are tampering with the Constitution.
Modi targets Udhayanidhi Stalin for his remarks against Hinduism
Mr. Modi did not spare Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for his remarks on Sanatana Dharma last year .
Without naming the son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in the public meeting, Mr. Modi said, “These are people who call Sanatana dharma as dengue and malaria . Whether you believe in Sanatana or not is a different matter, but calling it dengue malaria is an insult to our ancestors and saints. They don’t deserve a single seat. Ghamandia Gathbandhan has no vision or trustworthiness. They seek votes on the work done by Nitish Kumarji and they take the credit of the work done by Nitish Kumarji and Centre.”
RJD as the biggest face of Jungle Raj, says Modi
Mr. Modi pointed out that RJD ruled Bihar for many years, but they won’t talk about their work. He termed RJD as the biggest face of Jungle Raj. He also said that RJD is the second face of corruption and destruction in the State.
“RJD is the biggest culprit for ruining the State and they ask votes on the name of fodder scam. Even the court has said that fodder was stolen and poor people were looted. The RJD has given only two things to Bihar: first is Jungle Raj and second is corruption. In the regime of RJD, kidnapping and extortion become an industry in Bihar. Our sisters and daughter were not able to go outside the house and places like Gaya were badly affected by Naxalites,” he said.
He also claimed that RJD forced many families to leave Bihar and they want to repeat the same with the country as well. “When I talk about ending corruption, they abuse me, they feel that youths of Bihar will fall into their trap. In the era of smartphones, the smart youth of Bihar will never go with the people of Jungle Raj. Can you charge your mobile phone with Lalten [hurricane lamp which is the RJD’s symbol]? RJD will not allow you to go in the modern era. Had it been RJD’s rule, you could have not charged your mobile phone as well,” Mr. Modi quipped.
He appealed to the public to vote for BJP candidate Sushil Kumar Singh contesting from Aurangabad and Jitan Ram Manjhi, Hindusanti Awam Morcha (Secular) leader contesting from Gaya seat. Both were present on the dais. Mr. Modi called Mr. Manjhi, the face of Dalits in Bihar.
Mr. Modi alleged that Congress and RJD has always done vote bank politics on the name of dalits and backwards.
Modi’s meet in Purnea
After Gaya, Mr. Modi addressed another public meeting in Purnea in support of Janata Dal-(United) candidate Santosh Kushwaha. Mr. Kushwaha is in a direct contest with RJD candidate Bima Bharati and Independent candidate Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav. Dulalchand Goswami, JD(U) candidate from Katihar, was also present in Purnea.
Gaya and Aurangabad seats will go for polls in the first phase on April 19, whereas Purnea will vote in the second phase on April 26.
Purnea and Katihar fall under the Seemanchal region of Bihar, the bordering area of the State and has a sizeable Muslim population.
Published - April 16, 2024 12:47 pm IST
