Laying claim to the legacy of Dr Rammanohar Lohia on his birth anniversary on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused opposition parties of betraying the socialist leader with their desperation to form an opportunistic "Maha Milawat" alliance with the Congress.
"Anti-Congressism was Dr Lohia's heart and soul.... His efforts ensured a shock to the then all-powerful Congress in 1967 elections....Yet, today those parties that falsely claim to be Dr Lohia's followers are desperate to form an opportunistic Maha Milawat or adulteration alliances with the same Congress. It is both ironical and reprehensible," blogged Modi.
He buttressed the attack with the words of veteran socialist leader Surendranath Dwivedy. "He [Dr Lohia] was imprisoned many times more during Congress regime than under the British rule...He would be horrified at the political developments taking place." On his target were the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh and RJD in Bihar.
Though SP has not formed an alliance with the Congress, there are indications that they won't field candidates on certain seats or will have candidates who can cut into BJP's vote share and help the alliance win. In Bihar, Lalu Yadav's RJD has stitched an open alliance with the Congress.
Modi said that Dr Lohia would have been very proud of the NDA government's work whose mantra is 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" and track record in the last five years show that "we have made a long-lasting contribution in fulfilling the vision of Dr Lohia".
"Dr Lohia's thoughts inspire us. He wrote about modernising agriculture and empowering farmers, which the NDA Government is effectively doing through efforts such as PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, Krishi Sinchai Yojana, e-Nam, Soil Health Cards and more," the PM said.
Modi said the Opposition was forgetting Dr Lohia's principles of 'Samta', 'Samanata' and 'Samatva Bhaav' and instead believing in 'Satta', 'Swarth' and 'Shoshan.'
"These parties are experts at grabbing power, looting as much as possible and exploiting others. Poor people, Tribals, Dalits, OBCs and women are not safe in their rule because these parties give a free run to criminals and antisocial elements," he added.
SP chief Akhilesh Yadav described PM Modi's remarks as an attempt to deflect attention from real issues. "We don't need any lecture from BJP on the principles of Dr Lohia. Perhaps we are the only party which is constantly working on his principles... The BJP is trying to hide behind the issue of nationalism to divert people's attention from real issues troubling them.
"There are no jobs for the youth of the country, but the BJP is trying to hide behind 'nationalism' instead of answering the questions of the people. People are closely watching everything and will give them a befitting reply in the elections," he said.