Rajasthan: ‘Kharge ji, what has happened to you?,’ PM Modi’s swipe at Congress chief

Nagaur (Rajasthan) [India], November 18 (ANI): Congress people are upset with me, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday as he took a swipe at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge during a public meeting at Nagaur ahead of Rajasthan assembly polls.
Addressing a massive crowd at Nagaur, PM Modi said, "I am doing what you like and Congress people are upset with me, why is Modi doing this? They are verbally abusing me day and night."
"Yesterday Congress president attacked my father. It has been 40 years since he (PM's father) passed away but he verbally abused him too. What has happened to Congress? Kharge ji, you were not like this, what has happened to you?" he added.
He also took a dig at the state leadership of Congress saying that "they have made a century of handshake in five years".
"Delhi Durbar was busy snatching away the chair of their own CM and the CM was busy tackling them. They left the people of Rajasthan on their own. Now, when elections are here, they are getting pictures clicked together half-heartedly. 'Haath milan' event takes place here again and again," PM Modi said.
"CM, the CM-in-waiting, and other big leaders from Delhi come, they call camerapersons and then make them shake hands. They have made a century of handshake in 5 years. But no 'milaap' has taken place. There is sourness in their hearts but they shake hands as a sham," he added.
He further accused the Congress of betrayal and of giving a corrupt, scam-filled government to the state.
"The countdown for the farewell of Congress in Rajasthan has started. In Rajasthan, Congress has given you nothing but betrayal at every step in the last 5 years. Congress gave you a misruled government here. Congress gave you a corrupt and scam-filled government here. Where the life of a common man is not safe, where the honour of sisters and daughters is not safe. Congress has brought Rajasthan to that turning point," he said.
Further alleging Congress failed in maintaining law and order in the state, PM said, Congress's responsibility was to protect the life and property of every citizen. But in the last 5 years, crimes and atrocities against women, Dalits, tribals and the deprived have increased".
Highlighting 'Modi's guarantee' on schemes for the poor, he said, "Modi continues to fulfil all the guarantees to the poor like the permanent house, electricity, gas connection and tap water. Those who have not yet got this facility, you people should tell them that the BJP government is about to come and it is Modi's guarantee that now every poor will get the benefit of every scheme."
"The decision of Nagaur, Marwar is clear - Congress ko hatana hai, BJP ko hi laana hai. We celebrated Diwali just now. We have seen that though women keep the house tidy all through the year, during Diwali, they clean every corner of the house...In these elections, we need to learn from the women. We too have to do such 'safai' that Congress does not remain even in corners. For Rajasthan, this 'safai' will have to be done," he added.
He emphasized the Centre's One Rank One Pension scheme and added that many families of ex-servicemen benefitted from this scheme.
"The Congress, which made false promises, kept on misleading the ex-servicemen regarding One Rank One Pension. Modi had guaranteed OROP to ex-servicemen families and demonstrated it to be complete. After the implementation of OROP, the families of ex-servicemen have so far received Rs 90 thousand crores," he said.
Reiterating 'Modi's guarantee' to the state, PM Modi said, "On one hand, there's Congress with license to loot. On the other hand, there is Modi's guarantee card. There are some solid reasons why the entire country trusts Modi's guarantee card. To fulfil each and every guarantee, we have spent every moment of our time, day and night, to fulfil the promises made to you."
Rajasthan is set to undergo assembly polls on November 25, and the counting of votes will be done on December 3.
The BJP won 163 seats in the 2013 Legislative Assembly elections and formed the government in Rajasthan. In the 2018 assembly elections, the Congress won 99 seats, while the BJP won 73 seats in the 200-member House. (ANI)