Congress does not have any right to talk about tolerance after 1984 anti-Sikh riots, asserts Narendra Modi

As the debate over growing intolerance in the country rages on, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about on the issue in Bihar. Taking a jibe the Congress, the PM said that those who had serious allegations of guilt against them for the 1984 riots should not speak on intolerance now.

Addressing the first of his three election rallies on Monday in this district, Modi asked rhetorically: "Madam Soniaji, do you remember 1984? What happened in Delhi? Sikhs were killed. Serious charges were made against the Congress. Ironically, now the Congress talks of tolerance."

He said after two Sikh bodyguards assassinated then prime minister Indira Gandhi, innocent Sikhs "were killed in broad daylight... And the Congress is giving lectures on tolerance".

Not just the Congress, he also targeted the Mahagatbandhan of the Rashtriya Janta Dal-Janata Dal United-Congress. "I thank Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad for giving us 40 seats as Congress is contesting on those 40 seats where they has no existence," he said.

After targeting the Congress, Modi as usual took on the Chief Minister and Janata Dal-United leader Nitish Kumar and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former chief minister Lalu Prasad.

"Nitish Babu and Laluji, you can play as many games as you want. When the assembly election results will be out on November 8, Bihar will celebrate two Diwalis. The people of Bihar are going to give us a two-third majority in the assembly," he added.

He yet again thanked the people for giving the BJP-led NDA a massive majority in the Lok Sabha polls. "Today I'm ruling in Delhi and that is a result of the love that I am getting from people of Bihar. My government has been in power for 25 months and they are asking for my account of work rather than giving theirs when they ruled for 25 years," he said.

Also hitting out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Modi said, "Mr Nitish Kumar, you were lucky that u had Atal Bihari Vajpayee's support but now people will not believe you as public had faith in Vajpayeeji and not in you," he asserted.