Congress fighting polls to give terrorists free rein: PM Narendra Modi

Congress and its allies are contesting the Lok Sabha elections to give a free hand to terrorists and separatists, while the Bharatiya Janata Party is contending them to punish terrorists for their sins, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, firing a salvo at the Congress and other opposition parties, in Balod, Chhattisgarh.

"Didn't you feel proud when the country punished perpetrators of terror... Do you want a government of chowkidars or bhrashtachariyon ki baraat (procession of the corrupt)?" the PM asked a large gathering at the Balod rally.

He targeted the Congress's manifesto promise of amending the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. Calling AFSPA a suraksha kavach (armour), he slammed Congress for thinking of reviewing it.

Earlier in the day, the PM had criticised Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a rally in Sundargarh in the state, expressing confidence of a BJP victory in the general and assembly elections.

He alleged that CM Patnaik discriminated against western Odisha and that his government did not have the right intentions or right policies.

"Despite all resources, the state is backward. Why has it been left behind in the race to development?" he asked.

The PM had marked the BJP's 39th Foundation Day with a series of tweets lauding BJP workers: "Thanks to the efforts of our Karyakartas, BJP has become India's preferred party. Our development work has endeared the party to all sections of society. I am confident the entire family of @BJP4India Karyakartas would be working day and night to ensure our Party and allies are blessed again by the people of India.