Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at the Opposition, alleging that it has abandoned its duty and turned from being a “virodh paksh” (opposition side) into an “avrodh paksh” (obstructionist side) that is tearing the dignity of the Constitution and conspiring to divide the country. He also warned that the threat of “ Dimagi Naxals ” has not ended even after Naxalism was largely eliminated from the country.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the Parade Ground near the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, where he marked the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel .
“It is our misfortune that at present, the Opposition has abandoned its duty and, instead of being the opposition (virodh paksh), has turned into a party of obstruction (avrodh paksh). In their frustration and despair, these people are standing as obstacles in the way of the country’s development. This is not opposition. This is obstruction. And they have made this a part of their politics. “Driven by more than a decade of frustration and disappointment, they had now come out into the open. Who is meeting whom secretly overseas, which anti-India forces are supporting whom, who is speaking the language of India’s enemies – we must recognise all these patterns. “We have eliminated Naxalism from remote areas, but the threat of ‘Dimagi Naxals’ still looms over the country. “Those who once raised the slogan of ‘Garibi Hatao’ grew wealthier themselves. The situation began to change in the past few years.
A World Bank report released a few days ago indicates that in the ten to twelve years prior to 2024, 50 crore (500 million) Indians defeated poverty,” he said. In his address, the Prime Minister paid rich tributes to Patel for uniting more than 550 princely states after independence and binding the nation into a thread of unity with his iron resolve.
These people are engaged in tearing apart the dignity of the Constitution,” he said. Doubling down on the Opposition, Modi said Sardar Patel, Babasaheb Ambedkar and other great personalities had, while creating the Constitution, established the system of the ruling side and the opposition, explaining that the duty of the Opposition in a democracy was to challenge the policies of the government. We must unite and confront them,” he said. Modi also said that social media is being used as a weapon to “tarnish India’s image”. The nation must always remain alert against these ideological Naxals,” he said. He said Independence Day, Republic Day and Unity Day are now all celebrated as national festivals.
