Dantewada/Balod (Chhattisgarh):

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday claimed that corruption increases every time the Congress comes to power and likened the party to the reality show “Bigg Boss”, which features squabbles among participants famous.

Addressing a rally in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada and Kanker districts, he said the Congress will end after the Lok Sabha polls and become extinct like the dinosaurs in the next few years. He also promoted the idea of ​​”one country, one election” as a way to save time and resources.

“Whenever the Congress comes to power, corruption increases. Since Independence, the party has faced corruption charges while in power,” Singh said at a rally in Jidam in Dantewada district.

He said even after being elected to power in Chhattisgarh in 2018, “scams are still being committed in the state, including those involving cow dung”.

“However, no one can point fingers or make any allegations of corruption against the Narendra Modi government,” Mr. Singh asserted.

Paying tribute to Chief Minister Vishnu Deo, he said Chhattisgarh will make rapid progress under the newly elected BJP government.

He claimed that the Congress was like a rusty iron and had started to resemble “the big boss’s house as all its leaders are busy tearing each other’s clothes off”.

The condition of Congress keeps getting worse, to the point where 5-10 years after 2024, when people talk about Congress, their children will ask who Congress is. The Congress party will become extinct like the dinosaurs disappeared from the earth, he said, adding that several Congress leaders have already joined the BJP.

The Union minister further pointed the finger at the Congress over the issue of corruption, referring to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s statement that only 14 paise of the rupee meant for the welfare of the people actually reaches the Congress.

“I don’t want to criticize any Prime Minister because the Prime Minister is not a person but an institution. He (Rajiv Gandhi) expressed his impulse. But PM Modi took it as a challenge and now 100 paise has been sent from Delhi to 100 paise “beneficiary,” he claimed.

Corruption cannot be eradicated by speeches; the system needs to be changed to eliminate corruption.

The senior BJP leader said the country’s global status has improved over the past decade. “Our Prime Minister has performed a ‘karishma’ (miracle). Earlier, India was considered a poor country and no one wanted to listen. Now, India’s prestige has increased significantly and no matter what it says, everyone listens, “He said.

He said that nearly 46% of global digital transactions occur in India.

At that time, India would complain to other countries. Now, whenever tensions arise between the two countries, they look to India for solutions. “India has become stronger,” he said.

“They (opposition) sometimes accuse Modi of favoring Hindus over Muslims. But you will be surprised to know that five Muslim countries have given the highest award to Modi. This is the status of India,” he said.

Mr. Singh further emphasized this point by highlighting the release by Qatar of eight former naval personnel who had been sentenced to death. “As soon as our Prime Minister called the Qatari President, they returned safely to India. This is the power of India,” he added.

Singh said some political parties made big promises in their manifestos but forgot to fulfill them after coming to power. He stressed that it is the character of the BJP to match its words with its deeds.

“We had promised to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya. They (Congress) used to taunt us by asking the date (of construction). Now, a magnificent temple of Lord Ram Lalla has been built in Ayodhya. I believe the process now being established by Ram Rajya will start from India,” he said.

The Defense Minister has slammed Bharatiya Janata Party (RJD) leader Misa Bharti for her comments on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“An RJD leader said that if they are elected, they will put Modi in jail. Their leaders themselves are in jail. They are just trying to mislead people to gain votes,” he apparently referring to Bharti’s father’s conviction. and former Bihar chief minister Lalu Yadav’s involvement in the fodder scam.

He said the BJP never misled people but sought their support by making eye contact with them.

Bhatti, the RJD candidate from Bihar Lok Sabha seat, alleged that the media had aired “distorted footage”, adding that her comments were focused on the probe into the now-abandoned electoral bonds scheme.

Addressing another rally at Balod in Kanker Lok Sabha constituency, he said development happens when the BJP is at the helm because its politics is not just about forming a government but building the nation.

Singh said his party’s actions and words have changed people’s perception of politicians.

“Modi has amazing and imaginative abilities. He doesn’t live for himself, he lives for the country… I believe that under his leadership, India’s pride will never diminish. We are lucky , our country has such outstanding talents” Minister. God has sent Modi to make India a world power,” he said.

He said that if the Congress party had partially fulfilled its promises to the people, India would be a strong and wealthy country today.

“We have said that we will end the practice of triple talaq. Other parties may tolerate this practice but the BJP will never tolerate atrocities against the mothers and sisters of the country,” he said.

Mr Singh campaigned for the BJP’s Bastar Lok Sabha candidate Mahesh Kashyap and Kanker Lok Sabha candidate Bhojraj Nag.

The state’s 11 Lok Sabha seats will go to polls in three phases between April 19 and May 7, with counting of votes taking place on June 4.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)