UP: "PM Modi ne bharat ka mastak uncha kia," says Rajnath Singh; reiterates 'abolish Congress' remark

Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 1 : Union Defence Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Lucknow Lok Sabha constituency, Rajnath Singh lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts in raising the financial and economic standing of the country and reiterated claims that Mahatma Gandhi sought to abolish Congress right after India got Independence in 1947.
Addressing a public gathering in Agra on Wednesday, Rajnath Singh said, "I can say with utmost confidence that no matter what is said about Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no one can deny the fact that if anyone has done the work of raising the head of India across the world, it is Modi Ji."
"Saare dunia mai bharat ka mastak uncha karne ka kaam agar kisi ne kia hai toh vo Modi ji ne kia hai," said Rajnath Singh.
The Defence Minister also remembered Mahatma Gandhi's statement that Congress must be abolished and turned into a social service organisation after India gained Independence in 1947.
"I would also like to remember Mahatma Gandhi today. When India gained independence in 1947, Mahatma Gandhi said that now that we fought for freedom under the Congress, that party should be abolished and thereby dissolve itself. There should be no political party in the name of Congress," he said.
"However, the Congress party did not listen to Mahatma Gandhi and thought that it would remain in power and keep reminding the people that independence was gained only because of their efforts," said Singh.
Taking a jab at the Congress, Rajnath Singh said that the wish to abolish Congress is however being fulfilled by the public.
"I want to congratulate you (the public) because Bapu had said in 1947 that Congress should be abolished and no one was able to do it, but if anyone is trying to end that party then it is you people. You are fulfilling Mahatma Gandhi's wish," he said.
Adding to his speech, Singh said that the second wish of Mahatma Gandhi was to eradicate poverty from the country.
"When Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru became the Prime Minister, he said support Congress, bring us to power, we want to eradicate poverty, then his daughter Indira Gandhi came to power as the Prime Minister of the country and repeated the same promise, then came Rajiv Gandhi and then Manmohan Singh, all of whom promised to fulfil the same promise of uprooting poverty," he said.
"Forget about eradicating poverty, poverty that should have been completely eradicated in such a long time under the promise of these leaders did not even decline," he added.
Adding ahead, he said, "But today I can say this proudly that the world's biggest economists, financial forums and even the international monetary fund have said that PM Modi has done a miracle, and succeeded in lifting 25 crore people out of the poverty line in 8 years."
In his address to the public, Rajnath Singh praised former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and reminisced about his governance under him.
"When I took over the responsibility as the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, I received blessings from Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji, today I am here, and can't help but remember him," he said.
"Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji did a lot of work as the Prime Minister of the country. If anyone has to be given credit for initiating work for the broad roads of the country today it is him, Vajpayee ji," he added.
Adding further, Singh said, "Today, PM Modi is working on the same cause with great speed. I can say with pure confidence that no one can deny the fact that if anyone has done the work of raising the head of India across the world, it is PM Modi."
"I know this for a fact because I have been travelling to countries abroad. Earlier, when India used to speak on international stages or on platforms, India's issues were not taken as seriously as they should have been. People used to think India was a weak country, it didn't matter whether you listened or not," he said.
"You will be happy to know that when India speaks at international platforms and forums today, the entire world listens to what India is saying with open ears. This is the standing of India in the present day and this change is not a common thing," stated Singh.