New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on the new Opposition Tuesday evening, declaring that alliances "built on negativity has never won". Without naming the fresh minted INDIA, PM Modi, addressing allies at the mega meet of NDA, said, "When an alliance is dynastic and corrupt, the country will lose". Against INDIA -- which opposition said will represent the voice of the nation – the Prime Minister spoke of Bharat, the poor and the backward classes whom the NDA represents.
The letters of NDA, PM Modi said, represent New India, Developed Nation and the Aspiration of People and Region. It is not a coalition of compulsion but of contribution, he added.
"Today people are seeing who all are a part of NDA. They work for the shoshit and vanchit, adivasis and peechhdas (exploited and deprived, tribals and backward communities)... It is dedicated to the people of the country. Its motto is Nation First, Progress First, Empowerment of the People First... NDA is doing social justice as envisioned by Gandhi and Ambedkar," he said.
As examples he cited the government's welfare programmes and other initiatives.
"When we assure the poor of free healthcare, we secure the future generations... The NDA schemes have broken the vicious cycle of poverty... I went to a tribal village in MP and met tribal women. They told me they have become lakhpatis with the help of Self-Help Groups," he said.
Then came the all-out attack on the Opposition.
"In Kerala, Left and Congress are at loggerheads. But in Bengaluru, they are hugging each other... Their reality is for the people to see. They can come close but can't walk together," he said.
The first NDA meet ahead of the next year's general elections coincides with the mega opposition meet in Bengaluru. The sudden decision to hold the meet and its date have drawn Opposition barbs.
The BJP has also hit back, insisting that changing the name of the opposition alliance will not change its character.
Ally Rashtriya Lok Janata Dal founder and former Union minister Upendra Kushwaha said in a tweet, "It will now be Bharat Mata versus INDIA".
"Our civilisational conflict is pivoted around India and Bharat. The British named our country as India. We must strive to free ourselves from colonial legacies. "Our forefathers fought for Bharat, and we will continue to work for Bharat," tweeted BJP leader and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
It drew a barb from NCP spokesperson Clyde Crasto, who questioned when the BJP will change its Twitter handle's name, which is BJP4India.
"Himanta Biswa Sarma says 'British named our country India; we must free ourselves from colonial legacy'. So, when is @BJP4India changing its Twitter handle?" his tweet read.