Pime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Congress is far ahead in vote bank politics, but when it comes to poverty eradication, the party only shouts empty slogans and loots poor people.

He also raised the issue of illegal immigration and said a Congress leader in Jharkhand, which is facing assembly elections along with Maharashtra, had promised to provide cheap gas cylinders to infiltrators such as Rohingyas and Bangladeshis.

Stepping up the attack on the Congress with less than a week left for polls in the state, the star campaigner of the BJP noted that the party gave the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ (eradicate poverty) but instead plundered the poor.

Addressing a well-attended rally held in Kharghar in Panvel taluka of Raigad district for the November 20 assembly elections, Modi said, “If the poor are benefiting, you will be happy, but the Congress is not happy about it.”

“Congress is far ahead when it comes to vote bank politics, but it is the enemy of the poor,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister stated that the Grand Old Party has always worked with the agenda of keeping the poor in poverty.

“From generation to generation, these people continued to chant the false slogan of eliminating poverty. “In the name of eradicating poverty, Congress plundered the poor,” he said.

He stated that even 70 years after independence, most of the people in the country face shortages of food, clothing and shelter, but the situation has changed for the first time in the last 10 years.

Modi said his government has lifted 25 crore people out of poverty since 2014.

A Congress leader has promised to provide subsidized cooking gas cylinders even to infiltrators if the INDIA bloc comes to power in Jharkhand, a BJP stalwart said.

“Today, a Congress leader in Jharkhand said that we will give cheap gas cylinders to Hindus and Muslims, as well as infiltrators like Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. Should these people who praise the infiltrators get an opportunity anywhere? he asked.

Modi asked the crowd at the rally to chant ‘Ek hai toh safe hai’ (united, we are safe) so that those who want to divide the society lose sleep.

Modi also spoke about his love for Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s land, Maharashtra.

“When the BJP chose me as its Prime Minister candidate in 2013, I went to Raigad Fort and sought Shivaji Maharaj’s blessings to work for the country. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj gave us the oath of swaraj (self-government). “To build a developed India, we must take forward the solution of suraj (good governance) along with swaraj,” he said.

Modi emphasized the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s commitment to policies that will develop and empower all communities, especially the marginalized and economically disadvantaged sections of Maharashtra.

He said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies are taking initiatives to empower the ‘soshit’ (oppressed) and ‘vanchit’ (deprived) who are neglected by the Congress.

Highlighting major social welfare programs reaching over 80 crore citizens across India, Modi emphasized that his government provides free monthly ration to economically disadvantaged families.

“In Raigad alone, 18 lakh people have benefited from free ration card distribution,” he said.

On the economic front, Modi outlined Mahayuti’s development plans and stated that Maharashtra was on the verge of an infrastructure revolution.

He explained that major projects such as Atal Setu sea bridge, Navi Mumbai International Airport, Vadhavan Port and Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway have transformed the state into a growth hub.

Modi said that with an investment of Rs 30,000 billion in the Data Center Park in Raigad, Maharashtra is all set to become Asia’s leading technology hub.

He assured that government support for coastal communities, especially the fishing industry, will continue.

In the coastal region, an aid package of Rs 1,000 crore is being prepared to modernize navigation, provide better boats and support blue economy initiatives, he said.

He highlighted projects like the Prime Minister’s Awas Yojana, under which houses are registered in women’s names, and the Lakhpati Didi programme, which has helped many women become financially independent.

“Congress mocks these programs, but they are changing the lives of millions of women,” she said.

Modi emphasized that the upcoming elections are not just about electing members of the legislative assembly but about securing the long-term future of Maharashtra.

The Prime Minister warned the audience about the Congress’ attempts to create divisions between different communities and castes.

“Congress is trying to divide and exploit Dalits, tribals, Other Backward Classes (OBC) and other communities for power,” Modi said.

He alleged that the Congress was reluctant to support the advancement of SCs/STs/OBCs because it wanted to deprive them of political advantage.

Parliamentary poll results will be announced on November 23.

PTI report