Prime Minister Narendra Modi has alleged that the opposition is threatening to “dig his grave”. Modi alleged this while addressing his party workers on the 44th foundation day of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the Union’s capital New Delhi on Thursday, April 6th. He alleged that “some people (the opposition) have a ‘monarchist’ mentality” and that they “consider the people as their slaves”. Modi’s speech on the BJP’s foundation day was full of praise for his government, apart from his sharp criticism of his opponents.
Modi said, “Selfless service to the state — which is a virtue of Lord Hanuman — is the inspiration of BJP cadres.” As Hanuman Jayanti is coincidentally observed on Thursday, the BJP is celebrating it along with its foundation day at the same time.
Modi said that the opposition is suffering from an existential crisis. He alleged that “They (opponents of BJP) are now so desperate that they openly say, ‘Modi your grave will be dug’. But I want to say that these people will continue to conspire against us, but they don’t realise that the poor, the deprived, the Dalits, the tribals are protecting the ‘lotus’ (BJP’s election symbol).”
Modi’s speech on the BJP’s foundation day heavily criticised the party’s bete noire – the Congress party. Modi alleged that the Congress is a corrupt party that believes in nepotism and dynastic politics. He said, “What is the culture of the Congress? Only dynastic politics. In contrast, the BJP’s political culture is about getting everyone together, dreaming big and achieving bigger.”
Hitting the Congress, Modi said, “What happened in 2014 was not just a change of guard in India, but India came out of centuries of slavery and ushered in a new era. The British left the country in 1947, but they left a mentality of slavery among some. They nurture a monarchist mentality and consider the people of the country as their ‘slaves’.
Notably, the Congress and other opposition parties have accused Modi of corruption and demanded that he clarify before the country the relationship between him and Gautam Adani, who owns the port-to-power conglomerate Adani Group, which is accused of stock market manipulation and other financial irregularities. The Opposition alleges that Adani has been operating with impunity due to the Modi government’s support.
The Congress has alleged that the BJP is constantly smearing the Opposition to cover up its own corruption and has “conspired” to dismiss former Congress president Rahul Gandhi as MP.
Apart from a sharp attack on the opposition, Modi’s speech on the BJP’s foundation day also had a message for the future direction of the ruling party. Modi said the party should not only focus on winning elections but also win hearts with it. He said that technology will play a bigger role in people’s lives in the coming days and more youth will come to social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram. Notably, the Opposition has been alleging that the BJP gets an undue advantage over its competitors when it comes to social media campaigning.
On April 6, 1980, former Jana Sangh leaders like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Lal Krishna Advani, Murali Manohar Joshi, etc. came out of the anti-Congress Janata Party formed during the Emergency and formed the BJP raising the banner of Hindu nationalism. Hoping that party workers will be encouraged by Modi’s speech on BJP’s foundation day, party president JP Nadda said, “The BJP has achieved milestones under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. We are inspired by ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’’ led by the Prime Minister.”
