Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took aim at the Congress, alleging its history of dividing society along religious lines. Speaking at a rally in Gautambudh Nagar, Singh countered allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asserting that the BJP has never resorted to politics aimed at sowing religious discord.
“I have known PM Narendra Modi for a long time, and he has never done politics based on religion or created rifts among religions,” Singh stated, emphasizing Modi’s inclusive approach. The rally, held in Dadri’s Bisada village, held significance as the district is slated for polls on April 26.
Singh also criticized the Congress manifesto’s pledge of property surveys, claiming it aimed to fragment the country’s resources. He recalled an incident from 2006 when then-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh purportedly stated that minorities, especially Muslims, had first rights on the country’s resources. Singh countered, asserting that everyone should have equal rights to resources.
Highlighting past actions of the Congress, Singh claimed that institutions like Jamia Milia Islamia and Aligarh Muslim University had their SC/ST reservations scrapped under Congress rule. He also mentioned recommendations for OBC reservations that included quotas for Muslims and minorities.
Accusing the Congress of governance through Hindu-Muslim division, Singh reiterated the BJP’s aim of propelling the country toward development. He also defended the unopposed victory of a BJP candidate in Surat, Gujarat, dismissing claims by Congress that the victory was undemocratic. Singh argued that unopposed wins strengthen democracy, citing examples from Congress’s own history to counter their criticism.