I Dare Congress To Openly Praise Balasaheb Thackeray: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a public challenge to Congress, asking whether its leaders have the courage to openly praise Balasaheb Thackeray.

Modi stated, "Do Congress leaders have the courage to publicly acknowledge Balasaheb Thackeray and his contributions? They never utter a word of praise for Balasaheb's work-how tragic is that? My challenge to them is to openly appreciate Balasaheb Thackeray's thoughts and contributions."

Photo Credit: PTI

This comes as Prime Minister Modi began his tour of Maharashtra ahead of the state assembly elections. After Dhule and Nashik, Modi addressed public rallies in Akola and Nanded on Saturday, launching a vigorous attack on the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA).

MVA: An Opportunistic Experiment

The challenge posed by Modi highlights how unnatural and opportunistic the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) is. "The MVA's work is in direct contrast to the values and principles Balasaheb always fought for," Modi said. "Balasaheb's dream was to build a strong and self-respecting Maharashtra, whereas the MVA is merely an opportunistic experiment for power."

Modi warned that the MVA's opportunistic alliance could not only harm the development of Maharashtra but also jeopardise its cultural and social unity. "This alliance is a danger to Maharashtra's future, and the public must understand this," he added. The Mahayuti (grand alliance) urged the people of Maharashtra to support Balasaheb's ideology and distance themselves from such fabricated alliances.

Congress: Dividing Communities for Power

In one of his speeches, Narendra Modi sharply criticised the Maha Vikas Aghadi. He said, "Congress's strategy has always been to sow divisions between communities to seize power. But now, Congress's 'shop of lies' will no longer work in Maharashtra. Congress has been divisive, particularly towards the OBC community, constantly doing them injustice. Everyone should remember that, 'If you are one, you are safe'."

He added, "The fact that an OBC prime minister has come to power is something Congress cannot tolerate, and they are taking out their frustration on the OBC community by oppressing them."