Grand alliance failed experiment: PM Modi

Parties whose origin was based on opposition to Congress, have joined its hands just for their self-interest.

Setting the tone for 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday dismissed the proposed Opposition grand alliance as a “failed experiment” and asked the people to choose between a “mazboor sarkar” (helpless government) and “mazboot sarkar” (strong government) for the country. He also said it’s now a fight between a “Sultanate” (kingdom), referring to Congress leadership, and those who believe in Constitution. Addressing the valedictory session of the two-day BJP national convention at Ramlila Maidan in the capital, Modi said the parties whose origin was based on Opposition to Congress, have joined hands with it. “There were born to offer an alternative to Congress. But they have surrendered before the Congress, who top leaders are on bail, and got united to oppose just one person, whereas politics is done on the basis of ideologies,” said Modi, in an obvious reference to the proposed “Mahagathbandhan” (grand alliance) of opposition parties.

This is to be noted that the SP and BSP announced on Saturday their intent of contesting the LS election together. Besides, many Opposition parties are exploring alliances at both state and national level to stop the BJP. “Congress wants a ‘mazboor sarkar’ as otherwise ‘theirs shops will be shut. But the country wants a ‘mazboot sarkar’, which can improve the living standards of the common people. The Opposition parties are aligning just for their ‘self interest’, while the BJP works for the nation’s interest,” he added. The Prime Minister said that when such alliances take shape, the governments work under political compulsions. Citing the examples of recent developments in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, he said: “The Chief Minister of Karnataka (H.D. Kumaraswamy) is saying that he was working like a clerk and not as a Chief Minister. In Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, the governments are being threatened (by alliance partners) to take back cases or face the consequences. These incidents as ‘trailers’ of the grand alliance.” Making a scathing attack on Congress, he said the party does not have faith in any institution in India.

“For Congress, every institution such as RBI, CAG, CBI is wrong and only they are correct. But BJP has full faith and respect for Constitutional authorities. It’s now a fight between the ‘Sultanate’ and those who believe in the Constitution,” said the Prime Minister. The national council meeting of the BJP is considered to be the last before the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The two-day meeting deliberated in details the party’s strategy especially in the wake of all the Opposition parties’ attempt to forge alliance to take on the BJP. It was was attended by over 12,000 delegates, including from the top brass to district level office bearers Talking about the Ayodhya case, Modi accused the Congress of stalling the legal process. He said the Congress is sending lawyers to Supreme Court in a bid to delay the hearing process as it does not want any solution to the issue. “They were even ready to impeach the Chief Justice using false allegations. What kind of mentality the Congress have which works against the country’s interest on every issue,” asked Modi, amid cheers from thousands of BJP workers assembled from all over the country.

Modi claimed, for the first time in the country’s history, there has not been a single corruption allegation against the present government.