"Dividing Society On Caste, Uniting Vote Bank With Appeasement": PM Modi On Congress' Strategy For Lok Sabha Elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (2 May) alleged that the Congress is contesting the Lok Sabha elections on two strategies -- caste-based division of votes and appeasement politics.

"Congress is contesting these elections on two strategies. First, divide society based on caste. Second, uniting their vote bank through politics of appeasement," Modi said at the Jamnagar rally.

"Congress is now giving its all to its main objective against reservations. Congress wants to take away reservation from SC, ST, and OBC and give it away to Muslims based on religion, by changing the Constitution," he added.

Modi also targeted the Congress manifesto and called it a "sign of danger. "I clearly said that I could see the image of the Muslim League in their manifesto, which many thought was a mere political statement," he said.

"The narratives that had been imposed during the partition of the country by the Muslim League, unfortunately, Congress is seeking votes on those lines," Modi said referring to the appeal of 'vote jihad'.

A case was registered against senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and his niece Maria Alam Khan, a Samajwadi Party leader, over over an appeal she made at a public meeting on Monday for "vote jihad."

Modi challenged Congress to give in writing that they will not change the Constitution and give reservations to Muslims based on religion and cut the quota of SCs, STs and OBCs.

"It has been 9 days since I have challenged the Congress, and they haven't given me a reply on the same. They are quiet, which means there is something wrong in their intentions," Modi said.