Responding to the Congress’s ‘thief’ charge against him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tried to use it against the grand old party by claiming that the allegation is actually against his caste. He belongs to a community that is officially regarded as backward. 

Speaking at an election rally in Maharashtra, Modi said, “I have been abused many times by the Congress and its allies… but this time they branded the entire backward community as thieves.” This was in reference to Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s remark, “I have a question. Why do all the thieves have Modi in their name whether be it Nirav Modi, Lalit Modi and Narendra Modi? We don't know how many more such Modis will come out”.

In response to this, Modi said, “Should such language be used? We have to throw out such people. Abusive language has become the norm. The Sahu community here would have been called Modi in Gujarat. Are they all thieves?”

“The PM Kisan Yojana will be substantially expanded once we come to power after the election and there will be a separate water ministry to bring relief to water scarce areas like Madha. Water is not merely a political weapon to be used opportunistically,” Modi said.

The Prime minister also blamed leaders of Congress for not being able to resolve the problems of Maharashtra’s arid regions for several decades.

“You have seen how I have run the government for five years. Now you have to decide whether you want to see a strong country or a weak one. Do you want a majboot Hindustan or a Majboor one,” Modi asked the public in the Maharashtra rally.

He added, “The Congress party's poll promise to strip the army of special power has led to celebration among those forces who are engaged in spreading violence, Does the Congress hand favor development or destruction?”