Modi Invokes Lohia to Attack Opposition’s Alliance With Congress

PM Modi invoked activist and socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia to launch an attack on the opposition.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(Photo: Reuters)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 23 March, invoked activist and socialist leader Ram Manohar Lohia to launch an attack on the Opposition, which is forging a grand alliance with the Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

In a blog to mark the 109th birth anniversary of Lohia, titled "Remembering Dr. Lohia," Modi took a dig at the regional parties and said, "Today those parties that falsely claim to be Dr. Lohia’s followers are desperate to form an opportunistic Maha Milawat or adulteration alliances with the same Congress. It is both ironical and reprehensible."

The prime minister attacked the Congress for its "dynastic politics," and said Lohia would have been flabbergasted to see his ‘followers’ think about their own families first instead of the nation.

‘Neither Agriculture Nor Industry Improved During Cong Regime’

Praising the NDA government’s efforts to relieve farmer distress, Modi said, Lohia’s thoughts on modernising agriculture and empowering farmers have fructified through PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Krishi Sinchai Yojana, e-Nam, Soil Health Cards and more.

Hitting out at the Congress, Modi said whenever Lohia spoke, the Congress "trembled with fear." He said, Lohia had once claimed that during the Congress regime neither agriculture and industry nor the Army improved.

Referring to gender inequality, the prime minister said nothing pained Lohia more than the caste hierarchy and inequality between women and men.

“These words can accurately describe even subsequent Congress regimes, where farmers were harassed, industry was discouraged (except if they belonged to friends and relatives of Congress leaders) and national security was ignored.”

Narendra Modi

Further, Modi said, Lohia would be “proud” of the NDA government led by the BJP for following his ideas.

“Our Mantra of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ as well as our track record in the last five years show that we have made a long-lasting contribution in fulfilling the vision of Dr. Lohia,” he said.

Modi alleged that the parties that claim to be Lohia’s followers, have forgotten his principle of ‘Samta’, ‘Samanata’ and ‘Samatva Bhaav.’ Instead, they now believe in ‘Satta’, ‘Swarth’ and ‘Shoshan.’

“Today they are betraying the principles of Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, tomorrow they will also betray the people of India.”

Narendra Modi

“Poor people, tribals, Dalits, OBCs and women are not safe in their rule because these parties give a free run to criminals and anti-social elements," Modi wrote.

BJP Seems to Be Schizophrenic: Akhilesh Yadav

Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday, 23 March, called the BJP “schizophrenic,” in a reference to Modi’s blog commemorating Lohia. Yadav alleged that the party tries to co-opt icons like Mahatma Gandhi, BR Ambedkar and Ram Manohar Lohia, but follows people who these leaders disagreed with, reported PTI.

Accusing the BJP of practising double standards, Yadav wrote on Twitter, "I wonder which principles are being spoken of. The BJP seems to be schizophrenic."

The Samajwadi Party, Janata Dal-Secular, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Sharad Yadav's Loktantrik Janata Dal, which will merge with the RJD after the Lok Sabha polls, claim to follow the socialist ideology.

(With inputs from PTI.)