In a veiled attack on Congress’ first family, the Gandhis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the Congress on handing over Haryana to “dalals” (middlemen) and “damads” (sons-in-law). While Modi did not explicitly name anyone, his allusion was clear to many in the audience, who erupted in applause.

“Wherever the Congress has put its foot, corruption and ‘bhai-bhatijawaad’ (nepotism) are inevitable. Congress has given birth to corruption in the Government system. The Congress party is the mother of corruption in our country,” the Prime Minister said.

During an election rally in Gohana, Sonipat that before the October 5 Assembly polls, he also lashed out at the Congress over the issue of reservation, alleging opposing reservation and hatred towards it are in its DNA. Modi firmly established that every Prime Minister from the Congress royal family has consistently opposed reservations. Voting for the 90-member legislative Assembly in Haryana will be held on October 5. Votes will be counted on October 8 along with that in Jammu and Kashmir.

He cautioned the public that even the fourth generation of the Congress royal family is now advocating for the abolition of reservations. He urged citizens to remain vigilant against Congress’s anti-reservation tactics.

Ahead of PM Modi’s rally in Sonipat, the Congress claimed that Haryana’s farmers have completely lost trust in the BJP and asked Prime Minister Modi to spell out his party’s vision for ensuring that the state’s farmers can make a decent living.

The Prime Minister observed that in every Congress-ruled State, their Chief Ministers and Ministers are embroiled in disputes, showing no concern for the people’s suffering. He noted that the rising disputes within Congress are evident to all of Haryana, stating: “Voting for Congress means putting Haryana’s stability and development at risk.” Slamming the main Opposition party, he said Congress Governments are known for “instability.”

“In the past few years wherever it formed Governments, Chief Ministers and Ministers were involved in infighting. They have nothing to do with the pain and problems of the people,” Modi said as he cited the example of Congress-ruled Karnataka.

“In Karnataka, its Chief Minister and deputy Chief Minister are busy in internal fighting. In Telangana and Himachal Pradesh, it is the same story,” he said in his second rally in the State, the first being over a week ago in Kurukshetra.

Modi also mentioned about alleged infighting in Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh when the Congress was in power there.

“Therefore, Haryana has to be cautious. Haryana has right over me. Remember, if Congress comes to power even by mistake, it will ruin Haryana due to its infighting,” he warned.”

The way infighting is rising in Congress, entire Haryana is watching,” he said. Voting for Congress means putting Haryana’s stability and development at stake and opening the doors of destruction, he further said.

“This instability will stop every work in Haryana. Investment and jobs will be impacted”, said Modi. Notably, with Haryana going to polls next month, the ruling BJP has been targeting the Congress over the alleged infighting in its Haryana unit and even claimed that Lok Sabha member and prominent Dalit leader Kumari Selja is unhappy with her party over ticket distribution and so is staying away from the poll campaign. Former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had also invited Selja to join the BJP but she dismissed any possible switch, saying, “I am a Congress person, I will remain a Congress person.”

Referring to his US visit, Modi said he met top leaders and representatives of large companies. “I told them about the talent of Indian youth. “He said under the BJP Government, Haryana has made a place  among top states in industry and agriculture sectors. “Today, the world’s biggest companies are interested in setting up factories in India, he said, adding “when industrialisation increases, its biggest benefit goes to poor, farmers and Dalits”.