Congress an opportunist, will have any tie-up to survive : PM Narendra Modi raises poll heat

With a week left for campaigning in Punjab where assembly elections will be held on February 4, Prime Minister Narendra Modi mounted a scathing attack Friday on the Congress, accusing it of “political opportunism” and describing it as a “sinking ship” which “people should not board because it is not going to take them anywhere”.
Taking a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi who raked up the issue of drug menace in the state at a rally in Majitha, the Prime Minister said: “some people who have no political issue to raise are tarnishing the image of Punjab and discrediting its youth.” He said Punjabi pride had been hurt by such statements and the polls will be the best response.
The Congress, he said, is “like water and changes its shape to suit its political needs”. He used a line from a song of a Hindi film to make his point: “Paani re paani tera rang kaisa”.
Addressing a rally in Jalandhar, Modi sought support for Parkash Singh Badal of the ruling SAD, urging people to vote the Chief Minister in for a third straight term. “Ever since I was (BJP) in-charge of Punjab affairs and Chief Minister of Gujarat, Badal Sahib has held my hand and guided me. Whenever he meets me, he only discusses issues of Punjab’s farmers and the poor,” he said.
“It is a strange party. It tied up with the Left in West Bengal to survive in the state. Whatever they (Left) gave (as seats), it accepted… In Uttar Pradesh, it attacked the SP. Then it went for an alliance… It saw an opportunity in the rift within the SP,” he said.
The country, Modi said, is witnessing the results of “politics of destruction” followed for 70 years. “Now, we have started politics of development,” he said.
Referring to criticism of the demonetisation move, he claimed he had been facing “zulm” (atrocities) for the last three months. “Mujh par pichchle teen mahino me bahut zulm hue hain. Par yeh Modi hai, zulm ke saamne jhukta nahin” (I have been subjected to many atrocities in the last three months. But I am Modi, I will never give in).”
“Earlier, when one used to pick up the morning newspaper, one would only see how much money was lost (“kitna gaya”) in 2G, coal scam… but now newspapers tell you how much is coming back (“kitna aaya”),” he said.
Modi’s address lifted BJP spirits after party men had tried in vain to stop people, who had waited four hours at the venue, began leaving when he began his address. BJP leaders tried to make them stay back but many in the crowd left, saying there would be a rush later to exit.