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PM Modi accused the Congress of practising appeasement politics to secure votes, claiming that the party’s priority has always been “family first”
News18
In a clear dig at Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that attempts are being made to “spread caste poison in society”.
Replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha, PM Modi said that for many years, Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) across different parties had been demanding constitutional recognition for the OBC panel.
However, he claimed that their demand was consistently rejected by the Congress, stating that it did not align with the party’s political interests.
Speaking in Rajya Sabha, PM Modi says, ” Today, attempts are being made to spread caste poison in the society…For many years, OBC MPs from all parties had been demanding constitutional status for the OBC Panel. But their demand was rejected, as it might not have suited their… pic.twitter.com/1kMIm57HOJ— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2025
The Prime Minister further pointed out that despite this, the current BJP-led government had granted constitutional status to the OBC panel.
“Whenever the issue of reservation came up, it was done to create a rift in the country… ” he said.
“For the first time, we gave a model, we gave 10 per cent reservation to economically backward groups without snatching from anyone. SC, ST, OBC communities welcomed it, no one had a problem,” Modi added.
Congress practising appeasement politics
The Prime Minister also accused the Congress of practising appeasement politics to secure votes, claiming that the party’s priority has always been “family first,” with its policies centred around this agenda.
“Nation first is the BJP’s priority,” he stated.
“I say it with a lot of pride … For five to six decades, there was no alternative model for the people. After a long time, after 2014, the country got to witness a new model, which is not based on appeasement but ‘santushtikaran (satisfaction of all)’,” Modi said.
“The earlier model, especially under the Congress, there was appeasement in everything. This became the crux of its politics. It would give something to small groups and deprive others. At the time of elections, it would give false hope. It ran its politics by fooling people,” he said.
PM Evokes Dev Anand, Kishore Kumar In Attack
PM Modi also criticised the Congress for imposing the Emergency, calling it a move to indulge the arrogance of the royal family within the party. He recounted how the Congress government targeted freedom of speech and imposed draconian measures against actors, singers, poets, and lyricists who refused to support the government during that period.
Modi pointed out how the Congress government during the Emergency persecuted notable figures such as singer Kishore Kumar and actors Dev Anand and Balraj Sahni for their refusal to support the regime.
Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Kishore Kumar refused to sing for Congress. As a result of this, all of Kishore Kumar’s songs were banned in Akashvani. I cannot forget the days of the Emergency”(Video Courtesy: Sansad TV) pic.twitter.com/fGVibDgA2J
— IANS (@ians_india) February 6, 2025
He also took aim at the Congress leadership under the first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, for imposing restrictions on press freedom while presenting themselves as champions of democracy.
The Prime Minister also recalled how MPs like George Fernandes were handcuffed and imprisoned during the Emergency. Modi described how the Congress government turned the nation into a jail to maintain the royal family’s power.
PM’s Poetic Retort
To set the tone for his remarks, Modi resorted to poetry, reciting verses in response to the poetic debate initiated by Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.
In a pointed poetic reply, the Prime Minister said, “Tamasha karne walon ka kya khabar, humney kitne tufano to par kar diya jalaya hai” (Those involved in gimmickry don’t realise the sacrifices we have made to light up the lamp).
Reflecting on the frustrations of the Emergency, Modi also recited lines by poet Neeraj, “Hai bahut andhiara, ab suraj nikalna chahiye, jis tarah se bhi ho, yeh mausam badalja chahiye” (The sun must rise to end the darkness, the weather should change for the good).
Concluding his poetic remarks, Modi quoted another line by Neeraj: “Mere desh udaas na ho, phir deep jalega, timir dhalega” (A lamp will be lit one day to end the darkness, so my dear country, don’t feel disheartened).
(With inputs from agencies)
