'Unable to compete, Congress resorting to anti-national agendas': PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday unleashed a scathing attack on the opposition INDIA bloc, particularly the Congress , accusing it of using "anti-national age nda s and appeasement" to compete against BJP-led NDA in the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing a public rally in Maharashtra's Kolhapur, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at Congress and its allies for "demanding a separate nation by splitting South India".

"They (opposition) have devised the 'One year, One PM' formula. If they get a chance for five years, then there will be five different PMs. However, the nation will not tolerate this. That's why they are showing their anger towards the nation. In Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Congress and INDI alliance leaders are demanding a separate nation by splitting South India. Will the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ever accept this?" PM Modi said while addressing the poll rally in Kolhapur.

He said the Congress and its allies "realised that they cannot compete with the NDA's track record of development and therefore they changed their strategy" shaped in the favour of "anti-national agendas and appeasement".

PM Modi also attacked the Uddhav faction, calling it a 'fake Shiv Sena' and claiming that Balasaheb must have been very upset seeing them walking shoulder-to-shoulder with those seeking elimination of Sanatan Dharma.

"DMK party, very special to Congress, is abusing Sanatana. They are saying that the Sanatana is dengue and malaria. And, INDI Alliance invites them to Maharashtra and honours those who speak of destroying Sanatana... What must Bala Saheb feel after seeing this?... Fake Shiv Sena is walking shoulder-to-shoulder with these people... Balasaheb must have been very upset with this. Wherever his soul is, it must be upset seeing these activities," the Prime Minister said.

Last year, Udhayanidhi Stalin , son of Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin , triggered a major outrage with his remarks that Sanatana Dharma should be eradicated.

The DMK youth wing secretary and Tamil Nadu youth welfare minister had claimed that Sanatana Dharma is against equality and social justice and equated it with "mosquitoes, Dengue, Malaria, fever and Corona", adding that it should be stamped out like these ailments.

PM Modi's remark was indicated towards CM MK Stalin's presence in Mumbai during the culmination of Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra on March 17.

In the rally, the PM again highlighted the Congress's manifesto, claiming that the grand old party "plans to impose an inheritance tax on ancestral property".

"Congress has announced that whatever you earn during your lifetime for your children, will not be completely inherited by your children. Congress Prince (an apparent dig at Rahul Gandhi) has come up with such a formula that you will not be able to give your land and property to your children. They plan to impose an Inheritance Tax on ancestral property," PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister also said that Congress, if voted to power, would make all Muslims part of the OBC quota.

"Congress plans to implement its Karnataka Model of reservation across the country. In Karnataka, the Congress govt made all Muslims OBC, through a law, making them entitled to the OBC quota," said the PM.

The Prime Minister tore into the Congress for skipping the grand Ram Mandir inauguration in Ayodhya despite getting an invitation from the temple trust.

"The 500-year-old dream of Ram temple in Ayodhya has been fulfilled. Congress, which had been preventing the construction of Ram Mandir for decades, boycotted it as well. Congressmen also turned down the invitation for the Praan Pratishtha of Ram Lalla. Whereas, Ansari and his family from Ayodhya, who fought the case against the Ram temple all their life, were present at the consecration of the Ram temple after court ruled in favour of the temple," said PM Modi.

(With ANI inputs)