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Congress coined ‘Hindu terror’, labelled peaceful community as terrorists: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday revived his attack on the Congress-NCP alliance as well as Congress president Rahul Gandhi at a rally in Wardha in Maharashtra.

Updated on: Apr 26, 2020, 17:18:42 IST
Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday targeted Congress over coining the term “Hindu Terrorism” without naming the Samjhauta Express blast case. Modi said Congress has insulted the peaceful Hindu community by labelling them as terrorists and will not be forgiven for that. He blamed the opposition party (Congress) for vote bank politics. He was addressing a public rally at Swabhimani Maidan of Wardha district of Vidarbha region while kicking off the BJP’s election campaign in Maharashtra.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, in Wardha, Monday, April 01, 2019. (PTI file photo)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, in Wardha, Monday, April 01, 2019. (PTI file photo)

With the speech, PM Modi has also made it clear that the party will play its old saffron card along with nationalism for election campaign, 2019.

“The term Hindu Terrorism was coined by Sushil Kumar Shinde, the then home minister. But a recent court verdict has made it clear that Congress insulted the country. It insulted the peaceful Hindu community that believes the world as one family. Those (Hindu community) who were blamed then have now woken up and Congress will be punished for this act,” Modi said this without mentioning the Samjhauta Express blast case verdict in which a local court acquitted RSS pracharak Swami Aseemanand and other three accused.

Also read | ‘What’s right for Peter…’: Shatrughan jabs BJP over Rahul Gandhi’s 2nd seat

He then took potshots against Congress President Rahul Gandhi for his decision to contest from Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency in Kerala apart from Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi seat.

“This is the reason he (Rahul Gandhi) didn’t dare to contest from a seat where we (Hindu) are in majority but chose to contest from a seat (Wayanad) where we are in minority,” he added.

Modi also said NCP chief Sharad Pawar’s decision to not contest this Lok Sabha election shows that he is aware of the ground reality. “His (Sharad Pawar) nephew (Ajit Pawar) is making plans to hijack the party and the family is currently facing rift over seat distribution,” the Prime Minister said.

  • Faisal Malik
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Faisal Malik

    Faisal Malik is a senior journalist with over two and a half decades of experience covering Maharashtra’s politics, governance and public policy with a deep understanding of the state’s political landscape. He is a Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times and has been associated with its Mumbai edition for more than a decade. Based in Mumbai, Faisal currently covers three major political parties in Maharashtra — Congress, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and NCP (Sharad Pawar). Over the years, he has extensively reported on major political developments, combining investigative insights with in-depth field reporting. His coverage has spanned a wide range of issues, from drought, farmer suicides, major development projects and grassroots challenges to major electoral battles, including three Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly elections — 2014, 2019 and 2024. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with ‘The Asian Age’ and ‘Dainik Bhaskar’. An avid tea enthusiast, he enjoys reading history, Urdu literature and classical poetry. When away from the newsroom, he writes Urdu poetry inspired by human emotions, life's experiences, meaningful reflections and relationships. An amateur photographer, Faisal is passionate about capturing moments that often go unnoticed by the naked eye.Read More