India would have been 5 decades ahead if Congress was dissolved: Modi

Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday blamed previous Congress governments for India’s slow development till 2014. Addressing a huge rally, which was attended by Bharatiya Janata Party, Shiv Sena, Nationalist Congress Party, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and Republican Party of India at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park ground, the PM said India would have been five decades ahead today if Congress was dissolved as per Mahatma Gandhi’s advice.

Mr. Modi claimed that 50 years were lost in “Congressisation” of systems in the country. As a result, several countries that got independence around the same time as India, progressed more. “This happened because the country’s leaders did not trust the ability of Indians. Please go through the speeches made by former Prime Ministers from Red Fort. Some of them from a family (Gandhi family) called Indians lazy. You will not believe it. They did not trust abilities of their countrymen,” he said.

“When the country became independent, India was the world's sixth-largest economy. In 2014, Congress handed over an 11th-ranked economy. Today, we are the fifth-largest economic power,” the PM added.

Praising Mumbai as the city that fulfills dreams, the PM said, “Mumbai doesn't just dream, the city fulfills dreams. The city has never disappointed those who set out to achieve something, Mumbai has never disappointed."

Mr. Modi assured that India is on track to become the worl’'s third-largest economy soon. "I want to leave you with a developed India. That's why Modi is working for you 24x7 for 2047," he said.

Targeting the INDIA bloc for its negative mindset, Mr. Modi said,”They say that Modi only talks. But I have achieved things that they thought were impossible. They thought Ram Mandir could never be constructed. They said Article 370 cannot be removed. But our Parliament has buried the Article 370. No power in the world can now bring it back. Similarly, our Parliament has said”talaq talaq talaq” to triple talaq,” he said.

Another highlight of the rally was presence of several leaders, who had opposed Mr. Modi in the past. Apart from chief minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, MNS leader Raj Thackeray and former CM Ashok Chavan were present on the stage.

Contrary to usual practice, Raj Thackeray was the second last speaker in the rally. Maharashtra CM and DCMs spoke before him. In his speech, Raj Thackeray made five demands including the status of classical language for Marathi during Mr. Modi’s “third term” as Prime Minister. He congratulated Mr. Modi for becoming the PM for the third time, the feat achieved only by Jawaharlal Nehru.