INDIA alliance wants to destroy Sanatan Dharma, push country into 1,000 years' slavery: PM Modi
Bina (MP) (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday termed the Opposition's INDIA alliance as "ghamandia" (arrogant), and alleged that it wants to destroy Sanatan Dharma and push the country into "a thousand years' slavery."
The credit for the G-20 summit's success goes to the people of the country, he said, adding that it has boosted the self-confidence of even children in the villages across the country.
The prime minister was speaking after laying the foundation stone of a Rs 49,000-crore petrochemicals complex at Bina Refinery in Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh along with ten other industrial projects in the BJP-ruled state where assembly elections are due by the year-end.
This was his second visit to Sagar district in the Bundelkhand region bordering Uttar Pradesh in two months. Manmohan Singh, Modi's predecessor, had inaugurated the BPCL's Bina refinery in May 2011.
"The 'ghamandia' alliance met in Mumbai recently. They have neither any policies, nor issues, nor a leader. They have a hidden agenda of attacking Sanatan Dharma which they want to destroy," Modi said.
Mahatma Gandhi drew inspiration from Sanatan Dharma and his struggle for freedom was centred around it, the prime minister further said.
Gandhi followed Sanatan Dharma all his life and his last words were "Hey Ram", Modi noted.
Great historical personalities like Indore ruler Ahilyabai Holkar, Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi, Swami Vivekananda and Lokmanya Tilak also drew
inspiration from Sanatan Dharma, he added.
"They (the Opposition) have started speaking openly. They are going to sharpen their attack on us. Every follower of Sanatan Dharma in every nook and corner of the country and the nation-lovers have to be watchful," Modi said.
"The INDI alliance wants to abolish Sanatan Dharma and push the country into a thousand years' slavery. But we have to stop these forces unitedly. With our unity, we have to thwart their attempt," he further said.
The prime minister's attack on the Opposition bloc followed DMK leader and Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin's controversial statement that Sanatan Dharma is against social justice and it should be eradicated. A Raja, another DMK leader, likened Sanatan Dharma to diseases.
The prime minister, meanwhile, also said that the credit for the success of the just-concluded G-20 summit went to the 140 crore people of India.
"The heads of the people of the country are high and their chests are filled with pride due to the success of the G-20," he said.
"The credit does not go to Modi. The credit goes to 140 crore people....Every child in the villages was aware of the G-20. It has bolstered their self-confidence. It was the team spirit that made it successful," Modi added.
Targeting the Congress without naming it, he said those who ruled Madhya Pradesh for a long time did nothing but only indulged in corruption and crime.
"Criminals held sway in the state earlier. But after we (BJP) were given the chance (to rule), the lawlessness and corruption have disappeared," Modi said.
With the change in the atmosphere, industrialists are investing in the state, he added.
Madhya Pradesh, once one of the most laggard states, is now going to scale newer heights, Modi said.
The country has come out of a mindset of slavery and the new India is marching ahead with pride, he said.
His government will provide 75 lakh new gas connections to women in the country so that every household has cooking gas, the prime minister said.
"Projects of Rs 50,000 crore are being set up in Madhya Pradesh, which will give an impetus to the state's development," he said.
Earlier, on August 12, the prime minister had laid the foundation stone of a Rs 100 crore temple dedicated to Sant Ravidas in Sagar city.
Starting with his visit to the state on September 17 last year when he released translocated Namibian cheetahs in the Kuno National Park, this is Modi's eighth visit to Madhya Pradesh in the last one year.
The Bharatiya Janata Party had won 15 out of 26 assembly seats in the Bundelkhand region comprising the districts of Sagar, Chattarpur, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Damoh and Panna in the last elections. The Congress had won nine seats while the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party had bagged a seat each.
In Sagar district which has eight assembly seats, the BJP had won six and the Congress two seats in 2018.
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89 killed as storm, rain batter UP; relief work underway
Lucknow (PTI): At least 89 people were killed after a strong storm and heavy rain pounded several districts of Uttar Pradesh, uprooting trees and electric poles and damaging houses, according to the Relief Commissioner's office.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took cognisance of the loss of lives and damage caused by the unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and lightning on Wednesday and directed officials to ensure relief reaches the affected families within 24 hours.
In a post on X on Thursday, the Relief Commissioner's office said, "Due to bad weather on May 13, including storms, rain, hailstorm and lightning, reports of 89 deaths, 53 injured persons, 114 livestock losses and damage to 87 houses have been received in the state, which has been taken cognisance of by the Hon'ble Chief Minister."
It said the chief minister has directed all divisional commissioners and district magistrates to verify the incidents "with full sensitivity" and ensure financial assistance is distributed to affected families within 24 hours while establishing direct communication with them and extending other necessary help.
The Relief Commissioner's office said it is continuously monitoring the situation through direct coordination with district officials and necessary funds are being made available to districts.
According to a list issued by the Prayagraj district administration, seven deaths were reported in the Handia area, four in Phulpur, three in Soraon, two in Meja and one in Sadar due to the storm and rain.
In Bhadohi, district administration sources said at least 16 people died in storm-related incidents.
Additional District Magistrate Kunwar Virendra Kumar Maurya said trees and electric poles were uprooted in several areas while many houses were damaged in the storm.
Fatehpur Additional District Magistrate Avinash Tripathi said nine people were killed and 16 injured in storm-related incidents in the district.
"Eight people, including five women, died in Khaga tehsil, while a woman died after a wall of a house collapsed in Sadar tehsil," he said.
In Pratapgarh, four people died in separate incidents of wall and cemented shed collapses and lightning strikes amid strong winds and rain, officials said.
Superintendent of Police Deepak Bhukar said Bhim Yadav (25) died after he was trapped under the debris of a cemented shed that collapsed in Ojha Ka Purwa village in the Lalganj Kotwali area.
He said Bhushan Pandey (56) died after a wall collapsed in Sari Swami village under the Baghrai police station area.
Bhukar said Shanti Devi (46) of Narangpur village and Lal Bahadur (44) of Chhatrapur Shivala Raghna village also died in storm-related incidents.
In Kanpur Dehat district, two persons died in rain-related incidents, the officials said.
Police sources said a 19-year-old woman, Ruchi, died after being struck by lightning in Bhauthari village under the Rasulabad area while standing under a neem tree with goats during heavy rain. Several goats also died in the incident.
A 60-year-old man standing nearby was injured, they added.
Additional District Magistrate (Finance and Revenue) Dushyant Kumar said reports regarding human and livestock losses have been sought from local officials and financial assistance will be provided as per government rules.
In Deoria, Komal Yadav (62), a resident of Bhimpur Gaura village, died after being struck by lightning, district administration sources said. Two others were injured in the incident.
In another incident, Ramnath Prasad (65), a resident of Neruari village, died in a lightning strike.
In Sonbhadra district, Madhav Singh (38) died after being trapped under a tree uprooted during the rain and the storm.
Adityanath directed the district magistrates and officials of various departments to visit the affected areas and provide all possible assistance to the victims and their families.
He also instructed the officials to remain alert and ordered the revenue and agriculture departments, along with insurance companies, to conduct a survey of the damage and submit a report to the government.
