Pime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Congress was far ahead in vote-banking politics, but when it came to poverty eradication, the party had only given meaningless slogans and plundered the poor.

He also raised the issue of illegal immigration and said a Congress leader from Jharkhand, which faces assembly elections along with Maharashtra, promised to provide cheap gas cylinders to infiltrators like Rohingyas and the Bangladeshis.

Intensifying his attacks on the Congress with less than a week left for elections in the state, the star BJP campaigner pointed out that the party had given the slogan ‘Garibi Hatao’ (eradicate poverty), but that ‘instead he had plundered the poor.

“If the poor benefit, you feel happy, but the Congress is not happy with that,” Modi said, addressing a well-attended rally at Kharghar in Raigad’s Panvel taluka for the legislative elections of November 20.

“The Congress is far ahead in vote bank politics, but it is the enemy of the poor,” Modi said.

The Grand Old Party has always worked with the objective of keeping the poor poor, the Prime Minister noted.

“Generation after generation, these people have continued to raise the false slogan of eradicating poverty. In the name of poverty eradication, the Congress has looted the poor,” he said.

Even after 70 years of independence, most people in the country struggled to feed, clothe and house themselves, but the situation changed for the first time in the last decade, he said. added.

Modi said his government, since 2014, has lifted 25 million people out of poverty.

The BJP stalwart said a Congress leader had promised to provide subsidized cooking gas cylinders, even to infiltrators, if the INDIAN bloc came to power in Jharkhand.

“Today, a Congress leader said in Jharkhand that we will give cheap gas cylinders to Hindus and Muslims as well as infiltrators like Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Should these people who praise the infiltrators be given an opportunity somewhere? he asked.

Modi asked the crowd at the rally to say “Ek hai toh safe hai” (we are safe if we are united) so that those who seek to divide society lose sleep.

Modi also spoke about his love for Maharashtra, the home of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“When the BJP chose me as its prime ministerial candidate in 2013, I went to Raigad Fort and sought blessings from Shivaji Maharaj to work for the country. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj gave us the oath of Swaraj (self-reliance). We need to take forward the resolution of Suraj (good governance) as well as Swaraj to build a developed India,” he said.

Modi highlighted the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s commitment to policies that uplift and empower all communities, especially the marginalized and economically deprived sections of Maharashtra.

He said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are taking initiatives that empower the ‘soshit’ (oppressed) and ‘vanchit’ (deprived), who have been neglected by the Congress.

Highlighting key social welfare programs that have reached over 80 million citizens across India, Modi highlighted his government’s provision of free monthly rations to economically deprived families.

“In Raigad alone, 18 million people have benefited from free ration distribution,” he said.

On the economic front, Modi outlined Mahayuti development plans, saying Maharashtra is on the brink of an infrastructural revolution.

Key projects such as the Atal Setu Sea Bridge, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Vadhavan Port and the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway are transforming the state into a growth hub, he said.

Modi said that with Rs 30,000 crore invested in a data center park in Raigad, Maharashtra is poised to become a leading technology hub in Asia.

He assured coastal communities of the government’s continued support, particularly for the fishing industry.

A Rs 1,000 crore assistance package is planned to modernize navigation, provide better boats and support blue economy initiatives, he said in the coastal district.

He highlighted schemes such as the PM Awas Yojana scheme, where houses are registered in women’s names, and the Lakhpati Didi scheme, which has helped many women become financially independent.

“Congress mocks these programs, but they transform the lives of millions of women,” he said.

Modi stressed that the upcoming elections are about securing Maharashtra’s long-term future, not just electing members of the Legislative Assembly.

The Prime Minister warned the audience against attempts by the Congress to sow division between different communities and castes.

“The Congress is trying to divide and exploit Dalits, tribals, other backward classes (OBCs) and other communities for power,” Modi alleged.

He alleged that the Congress was reluctant to support the progress of SC/ST/OBCs because it wanted to keep them private to gain political advantage.

The results of the Assembly polls will be announced on November 23.

PTI Report