NASHIK,

 

 

(PTI) “Congress is a par-jeevi (parasite) which is alive on crutches -- whether it is Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Jharkhand, said PM Modi PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Friday dared Congress allies in Maharashtra to get party MP Rahul Gandhi to speak for 15 minutes in praise of Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar and Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, whose contributions to the country, he said, were unparalleled. Kicking off his campaign for the Maharashtra Assembly polls and addressing his second rally of the day in Nashik district, Modi accused the Congress of trying to weaken and divide OBCs (other backward castes) for power, and called it a ‘par-jeevi’ (parasite) which was dependent on other parties to survive. The BJP’s star campaigner maintained the November 20 elections were a fight for Maharashtra’s self-respect and pride. ‘For us, Marathi history, culture is a centre of faith. Savarkar is a source of inspiration.

 

But the Congress and its allies never gave Marathi the respect it deserves. They abuse Savarkar regularly. A senior MVA (Maha Vikas Aghadi) leader has asked the Congress yuvraj (referring to Gandhi) to stop disrespecting Savarkar as elections are taking place here. Those who consider Savarkar as an icon are with the Congress,’ he said in an apparent reference to the Shiv Sena (UBT), a former BJP ally. Without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray or any other MVA allies, Modi said, “I want to dare Congress’ allies to make the Congress yuvraj speak 15 minutes in praise of Savarkar and his sacrifices for the country. Similarly, the yuvraj should also be made to speak in praise of Balasaheb Thackeray. Today is November 8.. And I will wait for their response.’ The Shiv Sena (UBT) is a constituent of the Opposition bloc MVA along with Congress and NCP (SP). Attacking the Congress, the PM emphasised the country’s oldest political party was no longer a pan-India entity. ‘It is a par-jeevi (parasite) which is alive on crutches -- whether it is Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh or Jharkhand (states where Congress has aligned with regional parties),” he noted. Modi said the Congress was angry with OBCs because their consolidation in the1990s (which marked era of Mandal politics) resulted in the party losing power. “So, it wants to weaken OBCs and destroy their unity so that doors to power open for them again,” he opined. Modi said under the Mahayuti Government, of which the BJP is a constituent, Maharashtra is setting new records in development. “We are a Government which works for the poor,” the PM said.