Chowkidaar becomes hitter for SP, BSP and Congress as Modi slams calling 'opportunist'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hit out at Congress, Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) as "opportunists" whose "main aim is to dethrone" him and not the good of the nation. "This election is for the consolidation of a new India where on one hand you have 'Chowkidaar' with his good record of five years and on the other is a list of opportunists whose main aim is to dethrone me," he said.

Hitting out at Congress and SP-BSP, he said, "SP and BSP want proof from brave soldiers, and Congress respects the 'tukde tukde gang'. Should Modi protect our jawans or not? Should Modi save India from bombs and terror attacks? The country says so, but Congress wants to have a dialogue with terrorists." Without taking name, the Prime Minister also hit out at Imran Masood, Congress candidate from Saharanpur. Masood had in 2014 reportedly said that Narendra Modi, who was then a PM candidate, should be cut into pieces. "Shehzada is close to people who talk of 'boti-boti'. While they talk of 'boti-boti', our scheme is 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao'," said the PM.

The Prime Minister also spoke of reforms brought about by the NDA government to empower women. "In Congress, SP and BSP rule, the Muslim women will never be empowered," he said. PM Modi also said that Congress disrespected BR Ambedkar. They conferred Bharat Ratna to Babasaheb "only when BJP became powerful enough to question them".

Enumerating the work done by the BJP government at the Centre and in the state of Uttar Pradesh, he said: "We are committed to the cause of farmers. We have set up plants across India to make ethanol from sugarcane. Yogi Adityanath is working towards the improvement of sugarcane farmers. The common man is feeling the change due to the good work done by the collaborative efforts of the BJP government at the Centre and state."

(With inputs from agencies.)