Varanasi (UP), Nov 4 (PTI) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday accused the opposition of being unable to accept India's progress and development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that it was frustrated after being rejected by voters three times.
The leader of BJP ally Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) was in Varanasi to attend the 'Sanskritik Sansad', an event associated with Sanatan Dharma. He said he had come to meet saints and seers and seek their blessings, adding that the event was not a political platform.
"Prime Minister Modi is working to take the country forward, make it an economic superpower with the support of 140 crore people and the blessings of saints. He is working for India's progress and development, and that is something that the opposition is not able to digest, and it gives them a stomachache," Shinde told reporters.
"Those making allegations against him have no work to do; that is why they are resorting to such activities even when they have been rejected by the people of the country thrice. Now, as a fish becomes uncomfortable outside water, that is the condition of the opposition when it is out of power," he added.
Shinde questioned Rahul Gandhi's logic of challenging Modi for a debate, saying the prime minister had work to do for the country's development while the LoP has "no work" to do.
"That is why Gandhi is organising protests and rallies," he claimed.
Questioning the opposition's demonstrations against institutions such as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission, he said these institutions had been established under the Constitution.
"Taking out marches against the Supreme Court amounted to an insult to the country and its judicial system," he alleged.
Shinde accused the opposition of attempting to divide the country, while Modi was "working to unite it".
He also slammed opposition leaders for allegedly speaking the "language of Pakistan", going abroad and making remarks against the prime minister and criticising India. "This is not patriotism, this is treason," Shinde alleged.
On remarks concerning Modi's family, Shinde said making "derogatory" comments about his father reflected the opposition's "low-level politics".
He claimed that the more the opposition attacked Modi, the greater the political damage it would suffer, adding that people would teach it a lesson.
