Maharashtra mandate against ‘divisive forces’, for the spirit of ek hai toh safe hai: Modi

Prime Minister Modi celebrates BJP's victories in Maharashtra and bypolls, emphasizing unity and development over divisive politics.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the victory secured by the BJP and its allies in Maharashtra and substantial victories in bypolls in several States as one for “unity” and the spirit behind the slogan ‘ek hain toh safe hain’ (united we remain safe).

The slogan, coined by Prime Minister Modi just before the advent of the Maharashtra Assembly campaign, spoke to the BJP’s call against the fragmentation of votes on the basis of castes, which cost the party heavily, along with the Opposition’s narrative that the BJP wanted a thumping majority in the Lok Sabha polls to make radical changes in the Constitution.

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“The people of Maharashtra have loudly affirmed the spirit behind ‘ek hai toh safe hai’. This slogan has defeated those who sought to divide society into castes, religion, language, and handed out punishment to those who sought to divide society. It is a strong attack on the Congress and its ecosystem that wants to divide society,” he said during an address to BJP workers at the party headquarters after Saturday’s results.

“It is a victory of vikasvaad (development), good governance, true social justice and the defeat of lies, cunning and betrayal. Divisive forces, negative politics and dynasticism was defeated,” he further said, attributing the NDA’s victory to the support of women, youth and farmers.

In a strong attack on the Congress, he said the Opposition party and the Gandhi family had “in their lust for power” shattered the spirit of panth nirpekshta (treating all denominations as equals) that was enshrined in the Constitution. “They espoused fake secularism, and destroyed the tradition of panth nirpekshta, sowing the seeds of appeasement and a betrayal of the Constituent Assembly of India. They have betrayed the Constitution,” he said.

Mr. Modi said the Congress had “betrayed” even the Supreme Court for appeasement politics, and a prime example was the Waqf Act. “The Constitution does not have any place for the Waqf Act, but the Congress enacted this for appeasement to safeguard their vote bank,” he said. The NDA government at the Centre has moved several amendments to the Waqf Act and the Bill is now before a Joint Committee of Parliament.