Congress cannot tolerate an OBC Prime Minister: Modi

PM Modi accuses Congress of dividing OBCs to take away reservations, claims they can't tolerate an OBC Prime Minister.

Accusing the Congress of dividing other backward class (OBC) communities in a bid to take away their reservations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (November 9, 2024) alleged that the Opposition party could not “tolerate” a Prime Minister from the community.

“The Congress stand is clear: the moment OBCs weaken, they become stronger,” Mr. Modi said, addressing a rally at Akola as part of the campaign for Maharashtra’s upcoming Assembly election. He claimed that when OBCs became powerful, the Congress could not come to power with a full majority.

“In Nanded, the Congress provoked a fight between Vani and Mali, Sutar and Sonar, Nihari and Nirali, Teli and Paanchar. Remember, if you are divided, the Congress will take away your reservations; from Jawaharlal Nehru to Rajiv Gandhi, everyone tried to do this. They cannot tolerate an OBC Prime Minister,” he added, while addressing another public meeting at Nanded.

Thousands of people, clad in saffron caps and mufflers, braved the scorching sun and queued for over half a kilometre to reach the Nanded rally venue. The Prime Minister is slated to address at least nine rallies in the State, part of the BJP’s attempt to prevent a repeat of its poor performance here in the Lok Sabha election earlier this year.

Mr. Modi attempted to reverse the Opposition narrative that the “BJP will change the constitution”. Taking a potshot at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the small red covered copy of the Constitution he has displayed at public gatherings, the Prime Minister said, “The Congress has broken their own record. The red book he is selling is empty, not a single word is written in it. They hate Ambedkar’s Constitution and are trying to carve their own Constitution. Truth is they hate Ambedkar’s Constitution. They betrayed it for the first time in Kashmir. Everyone accepted the quashing of Article 370, but the Congress did not let it go.”

He also attacked the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) which has allied with the Congress. “Marathi Manoos will not let the Congress win, as they are running the agenda of Pakistan in India. These people are playing with the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray. The people of Maharashtra people will definitely teach them a lesson,” he said.

Nanded is the stronghold of former BJP Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, whose daughter Sreejaya Chavan has been fielded from the Bhokar Assembly seat that falls within the Nanded Lok Sabha constituency. After losing Nanded in the general election, Mr. Modi’s presence here was seen as a critical boost to the BJP’s campaign, especially given that a bypoll is being held for the Lok Sabha seat as well.