PM Modi tears into Congress-JMM at massive Jharkhand rallies

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Congress, accusing its "shahi parivar" (royal family) of attempting to break the ST-SC-OBC unity to "snatch away reservations under an evil design" while urging the crowd at a rally in Jharkhand to stay united, saying, 'Ek rahenge toh safe rahenge' (stay united to stay safe).

He accused the ruling JMM-led coalition in Jharkhand of looting the state's rich resources, including minerals, forests, sand, and coal, which he said put the state's "Roti-Beti-Mati" (bread, land, and daughter) at risk.

He vowed that the "culprits" would not escape justice, even if they were hiding in "paatal."

"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 hell-bent on breaking their unity... They want to snatch reservations.

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

The Congress cannot tolerate tribals in higher posts, which is why it opposes Droupadi Murmu's elevation (to the post of President) and continues to insult her, the PM said, adding former Jharkhand chief minister Champai Soren was also insulted.

The Prime Minister also alleged that the Congress-JMM coalition wanted to divide OBCs by pitting sub-castes against each other.