Modi invokes Kabir to attack SP, BSP
PM IN MAGHAR Says BJP planning to spread Kabir’s message of equality and brotherhood
MAGHAR (SANTKABIRNAGAR): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invoked 15th century mystic poet and saint Kabir to launch an attack on Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav.
“Kabir was against caste system and called for unity of humanity. However, some opposition leaders are trying to create tension in the society by indulging in politics of hate,” Modi said referring to the SP and the BSP.
He said to serve vested political interests such leaders were trying to create unrest in the society. “They are cut off from ground realities and are not aware of the basic belief prevailing among the common people,” Modi said.
Referring to the alleged resistance by Mayawati and Akhilesh in vacating their government bungalows following a Supreme Court order, Modi said: “These leaders have not read Kabir. Instead of ensuring welfare of the masses they are concerned about their own bungalows.”
“The SP leaders put the housing scheme launched by the central government on the backburner as they were more concerned about saving their big bungalows,” the PM said.
Earlier, Modi paid a floral tribute to Kabir at the poet’s samadhi and laid the foundation for the Sant Kabir Academy, research centre, library, and guest house for pilgrims and tourists.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath and mahant of the Kabir Math, Vichar Das, accompanied the PM when he visited the math where Kabir breathed his last. Addressing a public meeting adjacent to Kabir’s mausoleum, Modi said the BJP was planning to spread Kabir’s message of equality and brotherhood.
“Kabir’s wisdom will be used in shaping ‘New India’. Those talking of ‘samajwad’ and ‘bahujan’ are only interested in grabbing power either by hook or crook,” he said.
Reminding the people of traditional rivalry between the Congress and opposition parties, Modi said the party that imposed Emergency and those who opposed it had come together to grab power. “The opposition leaders who were bitter rivals are standing shoulder to shoulder not for the welfare of the poor but for personal gains. In the name of removing poverty, these parties only played politics,” he said.
Modi said the BJP government was working on the principle of ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas’ irrespective of caste and community.
“All the communities are benefiting from Jan Dhan scheme, Ujjwala scheme, pension plan, Ayushman Bharat programme, toilets constructed under Swachh Bharat scheme and power connection plan,” he said.
Maghar is located 28 km east of Gorakhpur where the SP-BSP alliance trounced the BJP in the by-election to win the Lok Sabha seat vacated by Adityanath.
Aware that Dalit-MuslimBackward alliance may upset BJP’s applecart in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Modi reminded people about Kabir’s fight against caste system and orthodoxy.
“Kabir was a ‘karmayogi’ and believed in work. The NDA government is also building new highways, constructing airports and laying optical fibre to take country to a new height of development,” he said.
Hitting out at the opposition for neglecting the backward regions and the weavers’ community in east U, Modi said after Independence, east UP and some communities remained neglected. “After the BJP formed government in the state, we are now working for the development of all,” he said.
Sending across a message to the Muslim community settled in the weavers’ zone of UP, Modi said former President APJ Abdul Kalam had visited Maghar.
“We are trying to fulfil Kalam’s dream of development of the area. We have launched Buddha circuit, Mahavir circuit, Ramayana circuit and Kabir circuit. The BJP tried to free Muslim women from the curse of triple talaq but opposition opposed the Bill,” he said. SP president Akhilesh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati accused Modi of indulging in vote-bank politics by invoking Kabir.
“When the Lok Sabha elections are just round the corner, the PM is remembering Kabir Das... Is it not petty politics of vote bank?” Mayawati said.
“Sant Kabir Das was above caste, creed, or religion. The BJP has made an obnoxious attempt to use Kabir’s name to garner support of weavers and most backward people,” Akhilesh said.