PM Modi Tears Into Opposition In Maharashtra, Invokes 'Maratha Pride'

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an attack on the opposition in Maharashtra, accusing them of having an issue with "Sambhaji Maharaj's name."

Speaking at an election rally in the state, Modi said those who idolise the person responsible for killing the Maratha warrior-king stand in opposition to the state and the pride of the Maratha community.

"Those who have a problem with Sambhaji Maharaj's name, those who see Messiah in the name of those who killed him, aren't they standing against Maharashtra and Maratha pride? Aren't these people against our identity? Will Maharashtra ever accept such people?" Modi remarked during his address in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

Sambhaji Maharaj, the son of Maratha legend Chhatrapati Shivaji, was killed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Modi also criticised the Congress party, accusing them of opposing reservation and development. "To form the government, the Congress party believes in division, not development... From the beginning, Congress has been against reservation... Old advertisements which are going viral on the internet nowadays show the real thinking of Congress regarding reservations. Congress used to call reservations against the country and merit. Congress' mentality and agenda remain the same today. Hence, for the last 10 years, it has been difficult for them to tolerate a Prime Minister from the OBC," he added.

He also praised the Mahayuti government for renaming Aurangabad to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, fulfilling Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray's wish.

The Prime Minister also accused the Congress and its allies of wanting to reinstate Article 370 and create a separate constitution for Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah referred to the opposition's Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance as an "Aurangzeb fan club." Speaking at a rally in Dhule, Maharashtra, Shah claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray had abandoned the principles of his father, Bal Thackeray.

"The Aghadi only wants to appease. To gain power, Uddhav ji has forgotten all the principles of Balasaheb Thackeray. Uddhav babu, who are you sitting with today? You are with those who opposed the renaming of Aurangabad, the construction of the Ram temple, the abrogation of Article 370, and the surgical strike against Pakistan. There are two clear sides before the people of Maharashtra - Aghadi, which is the Aurangzeb fan club, and Mahayuti, which follows the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Veer Savarkar," he stated.

Maharashtra will vote in the assembly election on November 20, with the results to be announced on November 23.