Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a jibe at Congress President Rahul Gandhi for choosing to contest from Kerala’s Wayanad as well his home constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh. Speaking at a campaign rally in Maharashtra’s Wardha, Modi lashed out at the Congress accusing the party of coining the term “Hindu Terror” for pursuing its “vote-bank politics”.
“Congress tried to put a taint of ‘Hindu terror’ on crores of people in this country… Congress will never be able to get rid of this sin. Congress has also realised that the country has made up its mind to give it a lesson. So now, some politicians are running away from the battleground. Congress called peace-loving Hindus – those who live a life of brotherhood, who consider the world their family, terrorists. And now, they don’t have the courage of contesting elections where Hindus are in majority and that is why they have been compelled to seek shelter where the majority is in a minority,” Modi said, without naming Rahul Gandhi.
PM Modi also accused the Congress of ‘going to any extent’ to protect their vote bank, saying, “The Congress-NCP keeps insulting the common Hindus, our brave soldiers, they demand proof of the IAF (Indian Air Force) actions in Pakistan – this is making them popular in the neighbouring country. You decide – Who do you want? Indian heroes or those who have become heroes in Pakistan? Will you teach them a lesson or not? " he said.
Modi’s attack comes a day after the Congress confirmed that party President Rahul Gandhi will be contesting the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Wayanad.
Wayanad constituency comprises seven Assembly segments: three from Wayanad district, three from Malappuram district and one from Kozhikode district. Most of the Assembly segments in Wayanad constituency - especially Mananthavady, Sulthanbathery, and Kalpetta - have a large population of Muslims. Wayanad district has around 49% Hindus and 49% Muslims and Christians.
Traditionally, Congress and IUML have had a good hold on Malappuram and Wayanad districts, and the party believes that in the Wayanad seat, all Congress factions along with the IUML will work together to make Rahul win.