Fresh from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) record third consecutive win in the Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday went hammers and tongs at the Opposition Congress, accusing it of practising “politics of hatred” in its desperate bid to return to power.

Dubbing the Congress as the “most irresponsible” party, Modi charged that the grand old party devised its winning formula by dividing the Hindu community and spreading seeds of poison in the society to consolidate its voter banks.

Inaugurating 10 government medical colleges across the state and laying foundation stone for Rs 7600- crore projects through video-conferencing from New Delhi, Modi said that the Congress practised divisive politics to win elections and it had become a most “irresponsible party” which was coming up with ‘new narratives to divide the country”.

“The Congress believes in dividing Hindus. It tries to make political gains by pitting one caste against another. That’s why whenever there are elections, the Congress tries to derive political mileage by driving a wedge in the Hindu community. The Congress fights elections on religious and caste lines,” Modi said.

Cautioning the people across the country about the “evil designs” of the Congress, Modi said: “Despite having been in power for so many years, the Congress is desperate to return to power. It is so desperate that it practises politics of hatred. It runs the biggest factory to spread hatred in the society. Soon after the Independence, Mahatma Gandhi sensed the vile intentions of Congress, and that’s why he wanted to dismantle the party. But, the Congress not only survived but it is now trying to destroy the country”.

Accusing the Congress of “feeding on fears” in the minds of Muslims in the country, the Prime Minister said: “Apart from indulging in casteist politics among the Hindus, the Congress induces fears in the minds of Muslims and converts them into vote banks for its electoral benefit”  

Alluding to the BJP’s return to power in Haryana for the third consecutive term, Modi said: “The Congress’ ecosystem is that of urban-naxalites. It believes in misleading the people. But the people of Haryana destroyed the conspiracy of the Congress... The Congress tried to create a rift within different sections of the society. But, the people saw through the Congress’ game plan and supported the policies and development governance model of the BJP and voted us back to power for the third consecutive term”.

Earlier, the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for Rs 7,600 crore worth development projects,  including the upgradation of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nagpur and the New Integrated Terminal Building at Shirdi Airport. He inaugurated 10 Government Medical Colleges in Maharashtra, Indian Institute of Skills (IIS), Mumbai and Vidya Samiksha Kendra (VSK) in the state.

Recalling his visit to Mumbai and Thane to inaugurate projects worth Rs 30,000 crore, including expansion of Metro network, upgradation of airports, highway projects, infrastructure, solar energy and textile parks, Modi said, “Never in the history of Maharashtra has development taken place at such a fast pace and  on such a large scale, in different sectors.”

The Prime Minister said that going by the manner in which his government was supporting the textile industry, the cotton farmers of Maharashtra would be greatly benefitted. Modi said that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government at the Centre was committed to strengthening Maharashtra.

He expressed happiness with the state’s pace of progress and congratulated the people of Maharashtra for all the development projects of today. Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis were virtually present on the occasion.