Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting, ahead of the upcoming state assembly elections, in Kanpur Dehat
PTI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of dividing the Hindu votes in Goa, alleging the claim was made by the party.
PM Modi referred to TMC's Goa election in charge Mahua Moitra recent interview in which she said the party alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) will prevent the consolidation of Hindu votes in the coastal state.
Addressing a public rally in Kanpur, Modi asked, "Is this secularism?"
"You are openly claiming that you want to divide Hindu votes. So whose votes are trying to collect? This is the bias.. Is this a democratic language? I want to appeal to Goan votes to bury this kind of politics," he said.
Meanwhile, TMC Goa Election in charge took to twitter to respond to PM Modi's comment, saying that she is happy she gave "PM Modi something to be excited about on dull Valentine's Day"
"Saffron sahibs are masters of twisting truth to suit own convenience. Am happy that on this otherwise dull Valentine’s Day I have given Hon’ble PM & his troll army something to be excited about….," she tweeted
In the 2017 Assembly Elections, Congress had won the maximum number of seats. But Sudin Dhavalikar-led MGP formed a post-poll alliance with the Parrikar-led BJP government in Goa. Later, Dhavalikar was dropped in March 2019 when Pramod Sawant took charge.
However, MGP, the first party to form government in the coastal state after the end of the Portuguese rule, are in a pre-poll alliance with Trinamool Congress this time.
Voting is currently underway in Goa, and the ballots will be counted on March 10.
