Nanded (#Maharashtra Election 2024) : 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a rally in Nanded on Saturday said the Congress has been losing its support base over the years due to the unity of SCs, STs, Dalits and Adivasis
Being the first prime minister from the Backward Classes, Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the Congress party cannot accept the fact that a person from the Backward Classes is leading the country.

Addressing a rally in Nanded ahead of the assembly polls in Maharashtra, Modi said, "Congress hates the OBCs because it cannot digest the fact that an OBC is the prime minister for ten years and working by taking everyone along."

Asserting that the Congress thrives on the division among Dalits, Adivasis and backward classes for political gains, Modi said Congress has been losing its bases over the past decades due to unity among the communities. His remarks came as a part of his campaign for the November 20 Maharashtra assembly elections and the Nanded Lok Sabha by-election.

It suits the politics of the Congress if Dalits, Adivasis, and Backward Classes are divided. It is a game plan to divide you into different groups and communities," said Modi. "Congress party wants to divide the OBC communities into small castes and snatch the power of their unity. If it happens, Congress will snatch the reservation," he added.

PM Modi further said the Congress party has been at the forefront of these divisive tactics for decades. He alleged that leaders, from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, divided people along caste lines and deprived them of their reservation rights.

Meanwhile, Modi also pointed out that 'Mahayuti' formed by the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP has found increasing support, but stated that the alliance is one and united in their vision for a "Viksit Bharat". Speaking referring to the BJP's Pratap Chikhlikar lost to Congress' Vasant Chavan, Modi said, "the BJP and its associates are once again voted for by people and Nanded did not vote for us in Lok Sabha polls.". I hope you will bless me now.

The Prime Minister further talked about the history created by the BJP in the Haryana elections, stating the people of Maharashtra were in to repeat history in the upcoming elections too. "Today, there is only one slogan on everyone's lips: BJP Mahayuti ahe, tar gati ahe. Maharashtrachi pragati ahe," he added, as quoted by news agency.

Modi further claims that Congress is the cause and current reason behind the problem of farmers. In this regard, he stated that his government, along with the allies, took many initiatives regarding water scarcity and drought in the region. He said that since the welfare of farmers is always at the top of his list, there are various welfare programs that are available for the benefit of farmers. He said Marathwada in the last two years received an investment of Rs 80,000 crore. "In the last two years, Rs 80,000 crore-worth investment has come to Marathwada alone," Modi said.

Slamming the Congress, PM Modi accused its members of "showing a red book labeled 'Constitution of India' with blank pages inside." He alleged that Congress governments were involved in multiple scams and said they had now "crossed all limits" by distributing copies of the Constitution "with not a word of Dr Ambedkar's Constitution inside." "The red book is blank with not a word of Ambedkar's Constitution inside" he added. It is an example of how much they hate Ambedkar."

Modi further questioned why the Congress was so supportive of Article 370, referring to the opposition party's demand to restore the provision in Jammu and Kashmir. He asked, "Why are Congress leaders so in love with Article 370?"

The by-election in the Nanded Lok Sabha seat was compelled by the death of Congress MP Vasant Chavan. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and BJP Rajya Sabha member Ashok Chavan also participated in the rally.