'Is this language acceptable?' PM Modi attacks 'shehzada' Rahul over 'India will be on fire' remark

Uttarakhand Lok Sabha polls: PM Modi alleges that the Congress is inciting people against public mandate.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 2 slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remark that the “country will be on fire" if the BJP wins the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

“Is this language of democracy? The shahzada (prince) of the Congress Shahi family has given a clarion call that if the country chooses the BJP for the third time, the country will be set on fire. They have been out of power for 10 years after ruling 70 years in the country and are speaking of setting the country on fire! Do you approve of this? Will you allow the country to be set on fire? Is this language acceptable? Is this the language of democracy? Won't you punish people who say such words,” said PM Modi while addressing a public rally in Uttarakhand.

Accusing the Congress of wanting to take India towards instability, the PM said no one trusts “Congress and its Emergency mentality in democracy".

At the Opposition's Ramlila Maidan rally on March 31, Gandhi said PM Modi had fixed the match of the election and sent two chief ministers to jail before the polls. "If the BJP wins these fixed elections and changes the Constitution, the country will be on fire. Remember this," Rahul Gandhi said.

The PM alleged that the Congress is inciting people against public mandate He cited Karnataka Congress leader DK Suresh's statement of dividing India into North and South. “"A tall leader of the Congress spoke of dividing the country into North and South. Shouldn't such a person be punished? But the Congress gave him an election ticket...Uttarakhand will never forget that Congress even insulted Bipin Rawat,” said the PM without naming Suresh.

Speaking about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the PM mentioned no matter how much the Congress opposes it, the refugees have the guarantee of Modi.

"Congress divided the country in such a way that we had to see Guru Nanak's Gurudwara through binoculars all these years. BJP came up with the Kartarpur corridor. Had Congress not shown weakness, nobody would have even dared to look at our borders. Another fresh example of how Congress gave away Kachchatheevu Island to Sri Lanka has now come to the fore. Can this Congress protect the country?" PM Modi said.

The BJP currently holds all five Lok Sabha seats in the state. The PM’s visit will be followed up by that of BJP president JP Nadda on April 3.