Congress never respected Ambedkar; any party joining them are doomed: Rajnath Singh | India News – Times of India

NEW DELHI: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday took a swipe at the Congress, stating that the party is in such bad shape that anyone associated with it is destined to “drown,” and predicted a similar fate for its allies in Maharashtra.
Speaking at a campaign rally in Pune, Singh said, “Congress ruled the country for a long time, but now its condition has become so precarious that anyone associated with it is bound to drown….In Maharashtra, Congress has piggy-backed on the Shiv Sena (UBT ) and NCP (SP), and their drowning is certain. The Congress is no longer able to stand on its own feet.”
Singh acknowledged that whilst Lok Sabha results in Maharashtra, Haryana and several other states were unexpected, the BJP secured a clear majority in Haryana’s state elections.
“The (Lok Sabha) poll results were not as per our expectations in some states which included Maharashtra, Haryana and some three to five states. But in Haryana state elections, people reposed their faith in the BJP and we formed a government with a clear majority there. Now a similar situation will be repeated in Maharashtra,” the senior BJP leader said while campaigning for Siddharth Shirole, their Shivajinagar constituency candidate.
Singh praised the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP government’s achievements in Maharashtra over the past two-and-half years, citing various welfare initiatives. He criticised Congress for failing to properly acknowledge Dr B R Ambedkar’s contributions.

Singh continued that, “I have great respect for the late Balasaheb Thackeray. But the way Uddhav ji has put principles aside for power has deeply pained me. I want to say this to Uddhav ji: forming a government is not a big deal. A man of character is one who does not waver from his principles in times of adversity. What have you done? Whoever embraces the Congress is destined to sink.”
He further added that India’s international standing has improved under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, with over 25 crore Indians being lifted out of poverty during this period.
Amid the controversy surrounding Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath’s ‘Batenge to Katenge’ remark, Singh asserted the importance of unity, stating that, “Always remember one thing: ‘Aapko na batna hai, na baantna hai, poore desh ko ek saath rehna hai’ (You neither have to divide nor let others divide; the entire country must stay together). We have to stay united. If we avoid division, we will move towards development and create a developed nation and a developed Maharashtra,” Singh said.
“Apni mohabbat ki dukaan mein Rahul Gandhi nafrat ka saamaan bech rahe hain (In his shop of love, Rahul Gandhi is selling goods of hatred),” he added.
Earlier in the day, speaking at electoral gatherings in Mumbai, Palghar and Pune, he criticised Rahul Gandhi’s approach to the caste census, noting how the Congress leader carried a red book, claiming it to be the constitution. Singh accused Rahul of creating confusion and attempting to mislead voters regarding the caste census.
Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) leaders are busy fighting among themselves—how can they possibly develop Maharashtra? For the MVA, Mumbai and the entire state are nothing more than ATMs they aim to exploit for money, he remarked.