Congress and like-minded parties view terrorism as shortcut to achieve success: Modi

Modi said that the fear of terrorism will remain till appeasement politics continues

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked Congress, alleging that the party "looks at terrorism through the eyes of appeasement and vote bank politics."

Modi was speaking in Kheda in central Gujarat, considered a Congress stronghold which will go to polls on December 1 in first phase.

Mentioning 2014 "Batla House encounter" in a Muslim-dominated locality in Delhi, Modi said that "Congress leaders had started crying in support of the terrorists." Speaking in Hindi while remembering terror attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, Modi said, "Congress views terrorism from the prism of vote bank, Not only Congress but many like-minded parties have come up now who view terrorism as a shortcut to achieve success."

Modi said the mouths of these parties remain "locked when big terrorist attacks take place so that their vote bank is not offended. They even go to courts from the back door to save terrorists."

Also Read: Gujarat polls: Cricketer brother, his sister bat for different parties in battle of Jadejas

"For a long time, Gujarat had been a target of terrorism. People in Surat and Ahmedabad were killed in serial bomb explosions. Few months back, court awarded rigorous punishment (to the accused). BJP government took actions against the sleeper cell of the terrorists and caught them. I can't forget how Delhi government (then UPA led by Congress) used all its power to free the terrorists. Instead of targeting terrorists, Congress government targeted Modi but kept encouraging terrorists," the PM alleged in his speech.

He added that when India carried surgical strikes, parties such as Congress asked for proof and questioned the credibility of armed forces. "The youth of the state aged between 20 and 25, have never seen what a curfew looks like. I have to save them from those bomb blasts and only double-engine government of BJP can do it," he said.

The PM said, "till the vote bank politics remains, the fear of a resurgence of terrorism is also real.”

“We have to save Gujarat from those playing the dirty game of terrorism. This is a long fight and we need your support,” Modi said.

While Congress has remained silent in its criticism of Modi in its low-key campaign, he and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have been attacking the grand old party over "frequent rioting and curfews" during its government. The Congress has been out of power in the state for over three decades.

"Tell me if during Congress rule, communal violence used to happen or not. Even in 2002, during Narendrabhai's time, there was an attempt but they were taught such a lesson that since then state hasn't witnessed a single communal violence. Those who were indulged in the rioting were ousted and BJP established peace and curfew-less Gujarat," Shah had claimed in an election rally at Jhalod in Dahod district two days back.