Hisar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took aim at the Congress party, accusing it of fuelling "vote bank politics" by opposing the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act. He also alleged that the party treated Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) as "second-class citizens."

‘Congress has become a destroyer of the Constitution’

Speaking at a public rally in Hisar, PM Modi said, "Congress has become the destroyer of Constitutions. Dr BR Ambedkar wanted to bring in equality, but Congress spread the virus of vote bank politics. Babasaheb wanted every poor, every backward to be able to live with dignity and with their head held high, to have dreams and complete them."

He added that during Congress rule, financial support and services were out of reach for marginalised communities. "In the time of Congress, the doors of the bank used to not even open for SC, ST, OBC; loan, welfare everything was just a dream, but now biggest beneficiaries of Jan Dhan accounts are SC, ST brothers and sisters," he said.

Waqf properties and land use concerns

Modi also highlighted the issue of Waqf land usage. He claimed that vast areas registered under the Waqf Board had not been used for the welfare of the poor.

"There are lakhs of hectares of land in the name of Waqf. If benefits from Waqf properties had been given to the needy, it would have benefitted them. But only land mafia benefitted from these properties," he stated.

He said that with the recent changes to the Waqf Act, this "land loot" would come to an end. "The loot of the poor will stop with this amended Waqf law. Under the new Waqf law, land or property belonging to any Adivasi cannot be touched by the Waqf Board... Poor Muslims and Pasmanda Muslims will get their rights. This is real social justice," Modi asserted.

‘Congress tried to erase Ambedkar’s legacy’

Modi accused Congress of disrespecting Dr Ambedkar and attempting to wipe out his legacy. He reminded the audience that Congress had contested elections against Ambedkar.

"We should not forget what Congress did to Babasaheb. Congress humiliated him while he was alive. They made him lose elections twice. Congress even tried to erase his memory. Congress also tried to destroy Baba Saheb's ideas forever. Dr Ambedkar was the protector of the Constitution, but Congress has become the destroyer of the Constitution," he said.

Criticism over basic amenities

Continuing his attack, the Prime Minister said that SCs, STs, and OBCs were long denied basic services under Congress governance.

"Congress treated SCs, STs, and OBCs as second-class citizens in this country. While Congress leaders enjoyed luxuries like swimming pools, only 16 out of every 100 households in villages had access to piped water and among those affected the most were SCs, STs, and OBCs. In just six to seven years, our government provided water connections to over 12 crore rural households. Now, 80 out of every 100 rural homes have access to clean water, and we are committed to taking that number to 100 per cent," he said.

Push for Uniform Civil Code

Modi reiterated his support for implementing a Uniform Civil Code, highlighting the example of BJP-led Uttarakhand.

"Congress turned the Constitution into a mere tool for gaining power. Whenever they felt that power slipping from their hands, they trampled upon the Constitution, just as they did during the Emergency. The spirit of the Constitution clearly says that there must be one common civil code for all citizens, which I call a secular civil code. But Congress never implemented it. In Uttarakhand, we have implemented a secular civil code but Congress continues to oppose it," he said.

Development projects in Hisar

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi flagged off the first direct commercial flight between Hisar and Ayodhya airports. He also laid the foundation stone for a new terminal at Hisar airport and launched several other development initiatives.

ANI inputs