NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday staunchly criticised the opposition for “choosing to be an obstructionists” after a decade of despair and frustration emanating from the intermittent electoral routs.PM Modi said the opposition has made obstruction “a core” of its politics, while taking a veiled swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over abroad trips.“These forces are continuously engaged in conspiracies to divide the country. Vicious plots are being hatched to divide and instigate conflict among the children of Mother India. Driven by more than a decade of frustration and disappointment, these people have now come out into the open. Who is secretly meeting whom abroad? Which anti-India forces are supporting them? Who is speaking the language of India’s enemies? We must recognise all these patterns. We must confront them unitedly,” PM Modi was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.Accusing opposition of ripping apart the dignity and boundaries of the Constitution, PM Modi said: “Social media is being weaponised to spread rumours and to malign India’s image. The citizens of the country must handle this together. We have eliminated Naxalism in far-flung areas, but the threat of ‘Dimagi Naxalism’ has not yet been averted from the nation. The country must always remain alert to these ‘Dimagi Naxals’. ..”PM Modi also alleged that “certain forces inside the country were busy trying to create instability by spreading lies and rumours”.“However, the citizens stood shoulder to shoulder with the nation. This is the greatest strength of this country, and it serves as the ultimate foundation for our courage,” he said in Gujarat.PM Modi said hailed nation’s resilience amidst global headwinds, and said that despite widespread disruptions and an escalating international fuel crunch, it is a “testament to India’s capability” that the country ensured its citizens remained protected from the brunt of the global energy crisis.
Addressing the gathering on Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s 151st birth anniversary, the Prime Minister also pointed out how several nations struggled with fuel supplies while dire predictions were made regarding India.Earlier, PM Modi paid floral tributes at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar, accompanied by an aerial flower petal shower by Indian Air Force helicopters.Later, he participated at the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas celebrations at the Parade Ground, administered the unity pledge, and reviewed the Ekta Parade comprising multiple marching contingents.