New Delhi: In a fiery speech in poll-bound Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the Congress party, describing it as a party being controlled by 'urban Naxals,' a term used by right-wing groups and the BJP against activists and academicians who oppose the Modi government's policies.
Modi asserted, "The Congress is bankrupt now, [it] has now handed over contracts to others. The Congress is now like a company that has outsourced its slogans and policies. It has given its contracts to some urban Naxals. Urban Naxals are the ones running the show in the Congress. This is what every Congress worker feels on the ground."
The term "urban Naxals" was initially introduced by members of the Union government and BJP leaders following the arrests of several activists and academicians in the Elgar Parishad case in 2018. It has since been frequently used to describe dissenters critical of the Modi-led government.
In his address, the Prime Minister also accused the opposition of supporting the recently passed women's reservation bill solely due to "political compulsions." The bill, which received unanimous approval in Parliament during a Special Session last week, reserves one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women.
It also includes a sub-quota within seats reserved for the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe categories. However, there is no such provision for the Other Backward Classes.
Modi commented on the opposition's stance on the bill, stating, "The Congress and its new 'ghamandiya' alliance had a very difficult time supporting this bill. The people in their alliance are the ones who prevented this law for 20 years."
During his speech, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of Madhya Pradesh's development and the nation's path towards becoming a developed country. He cautioned against allowing parties with alleged histories of corruption and vote-bank politics to gain influence during this critical period.
"If a dynasty-oriented party like the Congress, with a history of thousands of crores in scams, and parties that indulge in vote-bank politics and appeasement, get even a slight chance during this crucial time, it will cause significant damage to Madhya Pradesh," Modi concluded.