'No fake promises': PM targets Congress in MP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday warned the people of Madhya Pradesh to "beware of false guarantees" of "dynastic parties", and attacked opposition parties attempting to cobble up a united front ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

- Shruti Tomar

In a direct attack at the Congress, the PM, addressing a public meeting in MP's Shahdol, said, "You have to be careful of those who give false guarantees. The only surmise that one can draw from the Congress's poll guarantees is niyat mein khot aur gareeb par chot (questionable intent and a propensity to hurt the poor)."

Madhya Pradesh is set to go to polls later this year.

Recognise the fraud in the name of false guarantees, the PM said.

"When they give guarantee of free electricity, it means they are going to increase electricity prices. When free travel is guaranteed, it means that the traffic system is going to be ruined," he said.

While the Aam Aadmi Party-ruled Delhi government provides free electricity up to a certain threshold to consumers, the Congress government in Karnataka is set to roll out the Gruha Jyothi scheme, which promises similar benefits to power consumers.

"When the pension is guaranteed to be increased, it means that the employees in that state will not even get their salaries on time. When they guarantee cheap petrol, it means that they are preparing to withdraw money from your pocket by increasing taxes. When they guarantee employment, it means that they will come up with a policy to destroy the industry," he said.

Hitting back, spokesperson of the MP Congress Committee KK Mishra said, "The PM is lying blatantly. BJP leaders are copying the campaign of Congress and now started giving guarantee, but he has lost all the trust. Now, nobody will trust him and other BJP leaders."