PM Modi Accuses Congress of Handing Haryana to ‘Dalals’ and ‘Damads’ at Sonipat Rally

PM Modi Accuses Congress of Handing Haryana to ‘Dalals’ and ‘Damads’ at Sonipat Rally

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that as the Haryana assembly elections approach, support for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is increasing while the Congress party is losing steam. Speaking to a large crowd in Sonipat on Wednesday, he took a dig at the Gandhi family and claimed Congress was handing over the state to middlemen and sons-in-law.

Although he did not name anyone specifically, it was clear whom he was referring to—and the audience responded with applause. Modi also said wherever Congress goes, corruption and nepotism follow: not just any corruption but corruption “institutionalized” by this party when it had been in government. Indeed, he alleged, far from fighting against dysfunctional systems or practices, they have made them worse.

During a moment of humor, the Prime Minister noticed a boy in the crowd who had sketched his portrait. Modi called for his security detail to retrieve the drawing and pledged that he would write a personal message to the young artist. He also spoke about Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s vision: Modi pointed out how growth in the industry has helped those who are usually left behind.

“Today,” he said, giving an example, “Haryana is one of India’s leading states both in agriculture and industry under the BJP government.” The poor, farmers, and Dalits benefit most from this policy, according to supporters like him. Haryana will vote on Sunday to elect a new 90-seat state legislative assembly. The results will be out three days later—the same time as those from Jammu and Kashmir, which also go to the polls now.

Congress counters PM Modi

Before Modi’s rally, Congress responded by saying that the BJP had lost the trust of farmers in Haryana. In a statement, Jairam Ramesh from Congress asked for clarification on what steps the BJP would take to ensure farmers can earn a fair wage: “Farmers in Haryana do not believe the government anymore.”

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He added that after protests ended last year with promises their needs would be met, none have been fulfilled. Instead of listening to them talk about why they should trust again or doing something concrete, such as making sure people get decent incomes from farming, he alleged there had even been attacks on peaceful protestors under this administration dubbed “a regime of two injustices.”