BHUBANESWAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, criticised the opposition, asserting that those who believe governing the nation is their birthright have become increasingly frustrated after staying in opposition for a decade and are now conspiring against the nation.
“Their anger is directed at the public. They have started misleading people to take the country in a wrong direction. In this scenario, BJP workers and citizens who love the country and respect the constitution face a big challenge,” Modi said, while addressing a gathering after landing in the city in the afternoon to attend the all India DGP/IGP conference, being hosted here for the first time.
Urging all citizens to stay vigilant, PM Modi shared his personal experience of witnessing various aspects of politics and believing that opposition to policies is natural in democracy.
“Different opinions can exist on any decision, and political parties have the right to present their views to the public. However, in recent times, there’s been a significant shift where the essence of India’s constitution is being trampled, and democratic norms are disregarded,” Modi said.
Power-hungry politicians have been deceiving the public, and when one lie doesn’t work, they resort to another, the PM said. “Their aim is to mislead the public and seize power. Since independence, a group has been exploiting the nation, and they want another chance to loot,” Modi said.
The results of the Maharashtra and Haryana elections, and the recent elections across the country, have instilled a sense of confidence in BJP throughout the nation, “which I can see in your eyes,” Modi told the huge crowd, adding, “Odisha initiated this, followed by Haryana and Maharashtra, showcasing the strength of BJP and our workers.”
Despite the opposition’s constant propaganda against the BJP govts, the public, witnessing the govt’s work, has rushed to bless the BJP, Modi said and cited the example of Odisha, where the party came to power on its own for the first time.
Political experts had dismissed BJP in Odisha, months before the elections, claiming it couldn’t become a significant force on its own, Modi said, adding that once the results came out, they were surprised that Naveen Patnaik-led BJD’s 24-year rule had come to an end.
The people of Odisha recognised the work of the BJP govt at the Centre and the connection with Odisha, which reached every village and home over the past decade. “Even when we weren’t in power in the state, our schemes were renamed, yet we continued working diligently for Odisha’s development,” the PM said.
The central govt tripled the budget for Odisha and launched new schemes for every community, which created trust and garnered blessings. “Language was never a barrier, emotions transcended it,” Modi added.