Prime minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the opposition parties of being ''soft'' on terror and said that they (rivals) did not like his government's tough action against the terrorists.

Addressing an election rally at Amroha, about 400 kilometres from here, Modi said that some people (read opposition) ''started crying'', when India conducted the air strikes on terror camps inside Pakistan.

''Some people do not like, when we take tough action against the terrorists....they started crying and supported Pakistan, when the latter was exposed before the world,'' the prime minister said.

''The opposition parties are competing with each other to become hero in Pakistan,'' he said.

Modi said that there used to be explosions in Uttar Pradesh during the rule of Samajwadi Party (SP) and BSP. ''The SP, BSP governments used to let off the terrorists owing to their vote bank politics,'' he said.

''The days of explosions are gone as now there is a chowkidar in Delhi,'' he added.

The prime minister said that during the past five years, the country had taken long strides in every field. ''Today the countries in the world look at us with respect,'' he remarked.

He also listed the achievements of his government during his stint and said that the centre had taken steps for the welfare of the people from all sections.

Modi heaped praise on UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and said that the law and order situation in the state had improved under his government. 

In an apparent bid to woo the scheduled caste voters, the prime minister referred to the contribution of B.R.Ambedkar and also former defence minister Jagjivan Ram.