On 3rd March, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while attending a rally in Patna, Bihar along with his ally there, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar, targeted the Congress and opposition on several instances, accused the Congress of providing ammunition to Pakistan with its criticism of the ruling BJP government over the IAF’s strike in Balakot, Pakistan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi known to speak extempore at political meetings, was seen using teleprompters on Sunday at the Sankalp rally in Patna.
The machines were not visible in the television frame. What drew attention to them was a series of photos tweeted by a state minister from his party. The close-up shots tweeted by Mangal Pandey, the health minister in Nitish Kumar’s cabinet, showed the slim, transparent devices on the Prime Minister’s left. In a couple of shots, he also appeared to be looking at it.
गांधी मैदान, पटना में "संकल्प रैली" को संबोधित करते हुए माननीय प्रधानमंत्री श्री @narendramodi जी। pic.twitter.com/ykRRuOMxgr
— Mangal Pandey (Modi Ka Parivar) (@mangalpandeybjp) March 3, 2019
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, today, had the privilege of sharing a stage with the Prime Minister politically.He was one of his biggest critics before ending the Grand Alliance and partnering the BJP in June 2017.PM Modi, was previously was accused by Nitish Kumar of blocking special status of Bihar.
PM asserted that the Congress’s stance would only please Pakistan. PM added “They asked for evidence of the surgical strikes. Now, they ask for evidence of the strikes by the Air Forces”.
In a reply to Pm’s remarks, Congress’s top brass Mallikarjun Kharge said that nobody is questioning the forces but Modi himself . He further said that the PM wants to take credit and asserted that ‘they’ shouldn’t learn patriotic lessons from Modi.
Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress on PM's statement 'I don’t understand why some people still want to question forces' : Nobody is questioning, Modi himself is questioning, he wants to take credit; we support our Army. We shouldn't learn patriotic lessons from Modi. pic.twitter.com/nNK8N8eoPx
— ANI (@ANI) March 4, 2019
Bihar’s dynamic opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav however, asserted that the Prime Minister is unsuccessfully trying to pull Army in his narrow-minded politics to garner votes.
PM Modi didn’t speak on Special Status, Special Package, Srijan Scam, Unemployment, Smart Cities, Agrarian Crisis, Corruption, Jobs, Black Money and his earlier promises. PM is unsuccessfully trying to pull Army in his narrow-minded politics to garner votes. #BiharRejectsModi
— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) March 3, 2019
Modi also added,”I want to know from the Congress and other parties why they are bent on destroying the morale of the armed forces. Why is the Congress giving speeches where enemies are benefitting? When we had to stand united against terror factories, 21 parties united for questioning us.”
He said, Pakistan is “applauding those words”.
However, Karnataka BJP leader YS Yeddyurappa was accused of claiming to get 22 seats in Karnataka as a result of the Balakot attack. He received sharp criticism after his controversial statement.
BJP leader #Yeddyurappa statement claiming party will get 22 seats in Karnataka as a consequence of #BalakotAirStrike is revolting and an absolute insult to #WingCommanderAbhiNandan and the 40 CRPF soldiers martyred in Pulwama. UGH.
— barkha dutt (@BDUTT) February 28, 2019
The Indian overseas Congress strongly condemned the statement of YS Yeddyurappa in a press release and accused BJP of demonstrating a cynical ploy to use the sacrifice of the armed forces for political gain
The Indian Overseas Congress strongly condemns the statement of senior BJP leader Sri. BS Yeddyurappa who revealed the cynical ploy of BJP to use sacrifice of the armed forces for political gain. A non partisan defence is the bedrock of democracy & needs to be protected. pic.twitter.com/TN164TLMdO
— Indian Overseas Congress (@INCOverseas) March 2, 2019
Others, cited Yeddyurappa as lamentable.
Yeddyurappa’s statement “Airstrikes will help BJP win more seats” is not only deplorable but also reveals the mindset of the BJP. When the entire opposition is with the government in a show of unity, a statement of this kind from a senior BJP leader is lamentable.#BJPsPlot4Vote pic.twitter.com/oFCI3OjSga
— M B Patil (@MBPatil) February 28, 2019
Addressing the ‘Sankalp rally’ organised by the NDA in Patna on Sunday, Modi underlined the need for unity in the fight against terrorism.
PM Modi also said, “Wo kahte hain Modi ko katham karo; Modi kahta hai, aao ham sab milkar aatankwad ko katham karein” which means (They want to destroy Modi; I say everyone should come together to end terrorism).
The country is aware of the attitude shown by the Congress party and its allies towards national security in the past, the PM said. The New India won’t allow the sacrifice of the brave soldiers to go in vain, he said, adding: “We shall ensure that a befitting reply is given for every sacrifice.
Highlighting the achievements of his government, Modi said those were possible because of the strong mandate given by the people in favour of the NDA in 2014. He highlighted his government’s programmes like opening of the Jan Dhan bank accounts, medical cover and free cooking gas connections. The country will touch a new high after the 2019 polls, he said.
In Bihar, the Congress is a grand part of the opposition alliance in the state, and the party, along with ally Tejashwi Yadav, has accused the BJP of politicising the sacrifices of the soldiers.
Also, a report suggests that there has been a poor turnout in the rally and it has started bothering the NDA leaders who were making tall claims about it. Local television channels, for one reason or the other, avoided showing the crowd as that would have embarrassed the ruling NDA in Bihar.