PM Modi criticizes Congress for overlooking needs of the poor in a sharp attack during his election campaign speech in Madhya Pradesh on April 8, 2025. Addressing a massive crowd, the Prime Minister accused the Congress party of ignoring the poor for decades and prioritizing vote bank politics over genuine development.
Speaking just weeks before the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Congress had consistently failed to uplift the poor, despite ruling the country for a significant part of India’s post-independence history. “For decades, Congress used the poor for slogans and votes, but never worked for their true empowerment,” he said.
Modi’s remarks were in response to the Congress party’s recently released manifesto, which focuses on welfare schemes, minority rights, and economic reforms. The Prime Minister alleged that the document reflected the “ideology of the Muslim League” and questioned the Congress’s commitment to national integrity and inclusive development.
“This manifesto isn’t just a policy document; it is a declaration of appeasement,” said PM Modi. “Their focus is not on poor farmers, laborers, or youth but on dividing the country for electoral gains.”
Modi emphasized that under his government, poverty had declined significantly and millions had benefited from schemes like PM Awas Yojana (housing for all), Ujjwala Yojana (free LPG connections), and the Ayushman Bharat health insurance initiative. He claimed that the BJP-led government had delivered real benefits at the grassroots level, unlike the “tokenism” of previous regimes.
The Prime Minister’s statement sparked immediate backlash from Congress leaders. Senior Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh countered the accusations by stating that the party’s manifesto was based on constitutional values and economic justice. “It is Modi who is running a government of crony capitalists, not the Congress. We are proud of our commitment to inclusive growth,” he said.
Analysts view Modi’s strong remarks as part of the BJP’s broader electoral strategy, which includes aggressive targeting of opposition promises and highlighting the welfare schemes implemented during his tenure. The BJP is also seeking to contrast its “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” narrative with what it calls the divisive and outdated policies of the Congress party.
In response to PM Modi’s critique, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed a rally in Chhattisgarh where he defended the manifesto, asserting that it focused on dignity, equality, and job creation. “We will bring back the rights of every Indian citizen. Modi is scared because our message is resonating with the people,” Gandhi claimed.
As the 2025 Lok Sabha election campaigns intensify, PM Modi criticizes Congress for overlooking needs of the poor becomes a recurring theme, highlighting the BJP’s attempt to position itself as the only party capable of delivering welfare with integrity.
With just weeks to go before polling begins, both parties are intensifying their attacks, but Modi’s remarks have clearly set the tone for a heated electoral battle — one where the narratives of poverty, policy, and political legacy will dominate public discourse.
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