Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, accusing them of practicing appeasement politics. He referenced Salman Khurshid’s statement from 2012, alleging that Sonia Gandhi had “wept bitterly” over images from the Batla House encounter in 2008, where terrorists were killed. Modi’s remarks coincided with the halfway mark of Lok Sabha polls and Sonia Gandhi’s accusations of BJP promoting hatred for political gains.
Exploiting Vijay Wadettiwar’s claim that Hemant Karkare, an anti-terrorism officer killed during the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was not slain by Ajmal Kasab but by an RSS-affiliated policeman, Modi accused Maharashtra’s Congress of absolving terrorists. He insinuated that the Congress supported the 26/11 attackers and criticized their alleged sympathies towards terrorists, citing instances from the past.
Modi warned against the INDIA alliance’s purported plans, including revoking Article 370, repealing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Triple Talaq law, and halting free ration distribution. He alleged that the alliance aimed to sabotage the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Additionally, he claimed Rahul Gandhi’s intent to overturn the Supreme Court’s verdict on the temple’s construction, drawing parallels with Rajiv Gandhi’s actions in the Shah Bano case.
Responding to Modi’s accusations, Sonia Gandhi accused the BJP of seeking power at any cost and stoking division for political mileage. She highlighted issues like unemployment, gender violence, and caste discrimination, attributing them to the BJP’s agenda. Sonia stressed the Congress and the INDIA alliance’s commitment to democracy, the Constitution, and inclusive progress, urging support for a better future.
