PM Modi slams Opposition for spreading ‘lies’ and ‘rumors’ about BJP

‘Some people thought power at the Centre was their birthright; hence, they are impatient now,’ says PM Modi.

By Sukant Mohanty

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday strongly criticised opposition parties, accusing them of spreading “lies” and “rumors” to sustain their political relevance.

Addressing a gathering, Modi — who arrived here in the evening on a three-day Odisha visit — alleged that opposition parties consistently targeted the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with baseless allegations. However, he added, the public had unwavering faith in the BJP for its principles and forward-looking governance.

“In politics, parties may have different ideologies and opinions, and it is their privilege to educate and awaken the public on various issues. They may even resort to movements and agitations,” said the Prime Minister. “But all of this must be done with decency. In recent years, however, some parties and individuals have been trying to muzzle this spirit of democratic discourse,” he remarked.

Without naming specific individuals or parties, Modi accused certain opposition leaders of crossing the bounds of democratic decency in their criticism. “Some people considered power at the Centre as their birthright. Having lost it for over 12 years now, they are unable to accept the people’s mandate in favor of the BJP. In their frustration, they have resorted to venting their anger on the public by opening ‘shops of lies and rumors.’ Their behavior is against the spirit of the Constitution,” he asserted.

The Prime Minister highlighted the BJP’s recent victory in the Odisha Legislative Assembly elections earlier this year, calling it a testament to the people’s trust and faith in the party. He linked this success to the BJP’s strong performance in Haryana, Maharashtra, and several assembly and Lok Sabha bypolls.

“This victory in Odisha reflects the growing confidence of the people in the BJP’s vision for development,” Modi said.

Modi emphasised that Odisha now enjoys unprecedented representation in the Union Council of Ministers, something the state had not experienced in previous administrations. He also noted that central allocations for Odisha have tripled since 2014, underscoring the BJP government’s commitment to the state’s development.