PM: Congress aims to break OBC-ST-SC unity

Later in the evening, Modi participated in a massive 3-km roadshow in Ranchi, the state capital, with thousands lining both sides of the road to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister amid slogans like "Modi Zindabad."

Addressing a rally in Gumla, Modi attacked the Congress, accusing its "shahi parivar" (royal family) of being determined to fracture ST-SC-OBC unity to "snatch reservations under an evil design." Criticising the JMM-led coalition, he accused them of looting the state's rich resources such as minerals, forests, sand, and coal, thereby putting "Roti-Beti-Mati" (bread, daughter, and land) at grave risk.

"The Congress knows that if STs, SCs, and OBCs are united, they will pose a threat to the party's existence. This is the reason the Congress 'shahi parivar' is bent on breaking their unity... They want to snatch reservations," Modi said.

He added, "The Congress is trying to pit one tribal community against another — Munda against Oraon, Lohra against Kharia, Kharwar against Korwa — with an agenda to break the tribal society's strength."

Modi alleged that the Congress cannot tolerate tribals in higher positions, which is why it opposes Droupadi Murmu's elevation to the presidency and continues to insult her, adding that former Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren was also disrespected.

The Prime Minister stated that the BJP is committed to restoring tribal pride and announced that "Janjatiya Gaurav Varsh" will be celebrated for one year from November 15 across the country to honour tribal icon Birsa Munda.

He also promised that those who looted Jharkhand's resources and jeopardised the future of its youth would not be spared and would be brought to justice.

Earlier in the day, while addressing a rally in Bokaro, Modi reiterated his allegation that the Congress-JMM coalition wants to divide OBCs by inciting sub-caste rivalries. He urged people to remain united, saying, "Ek rahoge toh safe rahoge" (Be united to be safe).

"Beware of Congress-JMM's evil designs and conspiracies. They can go to any extent to grab power. Congress has been an opponent of SC, ST, and OBC unity since Independence. Till there was no unity, Congress kept forming governments at the Centre and looted the nation," he said.

"More than 125 sub-castes are considered OBCs in the Chotanagpur region. Congress-JMM wants to break OBC unity by pitting sub-castes against each other like Yadav versus Kurmi and Sonar versus Lohar. I warn you, 'Ek rahoge toh safe rahoge'," he added.

The Prime Minister also attacked the Congress and its allies for seeking to reinstate Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Congress and its allies want to bring back Article 370 so that Babasaheb's Constitution is once again out of Jammu and Kashmir, and our soldiers again face the fire of terrorism," he said. "Modi buried Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. For seven decades, Ambedkar's Constitution was not in force there."

He highlighted that, for the first time, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir took the oath in the name of the Indian Constitution, calling it his tribute to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Alleging that the ruling coalition was fueling infiltration, Modi said a BJP-led government was needed in Jharkhand to drive out infiltrators and eradicate corruption.

"You are hankering for a handful of sand; they are smuggling it and earning crores. I promise to ensure stringent punishment for the corrupt leaders of the JMM-led coalition," he asserted.

"Recruitment mafia and paper leak mafia created by the JMM-led coalition will be sent to jail, and those who played with the future of the youth would not be spared," he added.

Claiming that there was a strong wave in favor of the BJP — "Roti, Beti, Maati pukar — Jharkhand mein BJP-NDA ki sarkar" (Bread, daughter, land are calling — for a BJP-NDA government in Jharkhand) — Modi said that those who opposed the creation of Jharkhand cannot develop it. "We created Jharkhand and will give shape to it," he asserted.

"Ten years ago, there was a Congress government at the Centre from 2004 to 2014. Madam Sonia Gandhi used to run the government, and Manmohan Singh was the Prime Minister. At that time, the Centre gave Rs 80,000 crore to Jharkhand over 10 years with great difficulty. After 2014, the government changed in Delhi; you gave your 'sevak' Modi a chance to serve you, and in the last ten years, we have given more than Rs 3 lakh crore to Jharkhand," he said, adding that the Centre was spending lakhs of crores of rupees to develop highways, railways, and airports.

Informing that over 50 railway stations are being modernised in Jharkhand and the airport in Bokaro will be made operational soon, he said, "It is my dream to ensure that those who wear slippers and are poor travel by air."

The Prime Minister also said the Centre was reviving closed industrial units in Jharkhand and has already given a new lease of life to the Sindri fertiliser plant, ensuring employment for thousands of people.

"It is Modi's guarantee to implement the Gogo Didi Yojana in the state to transfer money (Rs. 2,100 per month) to the bank accounts of women. Modi lives for you. We will provide piped gas connections at affordable prices," he promised.

The roadshow in Ranchi began at OTC Ground amid tight security and heavy police deployment and culminated at New Market Chowk.

Union minister and Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth, Ranchi candidate C.P. Singh, and Hatia BJP candidate Naveen Jaiswal were seen alongside Modi as he waved to the crowds. People were seen atop their houses in the busy Ratu Road locality, cheering while jostling to get a glimpse of their beloved leader.