Aim BharatLaunching his campaign for the Maharashtra assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of exacerbating divisions between castes and tribes. He urged the public to uphold unity, emphasizing, “Ek hai, toh safe hai. (We’re safe if we’re united).”
While addressing a rally in Dhule, situated in northern Maharashtra, Modi alleged that the opposition coalition, Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), is conspiring to eliminate the Maharashtra government’s Ladki Bahin scheme. This program allocates ₹1,500 each month to underprivileged women, and Modi warned that its continuation would be jeopardized if the MVA were to assume power.
Following Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi’s reiteration of his commitment to a caste census during rallies in Nagpur and Mumbai, Modi asserted that the Congress party’s main agenda is to create discord among different castes. He claimed that the Congress struggles to accept the progress achieved by scheduled castes, tribes, and other backward classes.
During a rally in Nashik, Modi contended that the fragmentation of castes and tribes constitutes a major conspiracy against the nation. He accused past Congress leaders, including Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, and Rajiv Gandhi, of implementing policies that undermined reservation initiatives. Modi highlighted Rajiv Gandhi’s opposition to OBC reservations and expressed concern over efforts to divide OBCs and tribal groups. He stressed the importance of solidarity, stating, “Unity ensures safety.”
