Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (October 9) went on the offensive against Congress just a day after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clinched victory in Haryana Legislative Assembly elections. The PM called Congress an irresponsible party and claimed that it ‘spread hatred’. Modi said that Congress wanted to divide the Hindus and aimed to create enmity between communities. Further, he said Congress always creates fear among Muslims and treats them as a vote bank. The PM was speaking after virtually inaugurating projects worth Rs 7600 crore in Maharashtra.

BJP managed to retain power in Haryana on Tuesday. The party bagged 48 seats in 90-member Haryana Legislative Assembly. The majority mark in 46. Congress, which was widely held to achieve comfortable majority had to be content with 37 seats.

Eyes On Maharashtra

On Wednesday, PM Modi said that election results in Haryana reflected mood of the country. He expressed confidence that BJP will achieve ‘bigger victory’ in upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections.

It is expected that elections will take place in Maharashtra next month.

In his speech, PM Modi said the Maha Vikas Aghadi, comprising Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction), Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar) and Congress, wanted to weaken Maharashtra just to enjoy power. The ruling Mahayuti government however, said the PM, will strengthen the state.

“Our goal is Viksit Bharat with the development of poor, farmers, youth and women,” the prime minister said.

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini after he led the BJP to a historic hat-trick of victories in the Assembly elections on Tuesday.

“I met Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini ji and congratulated and wished him for the historic victory of BJP in the assembly elections. I am confident that Haryana’s role is going to become more important in the resolution of developed India,” PM Modi said in a post on X.

Haryana CM Nayab Saini On Electoral Victory

Earlier, Haryana CM Nayab Saini attributed the state’s election victory to PM Modi’s leadership after meeting him.

“The credit to this huge victory goes to PM Modi who has made such policies and schemes in the last 10 years which have benefitted poor, farmer, youth, women. His schemes are for every section of the society. This victory is the result of the PM’s policies and people’s love and affection towards PM Modi. I thank the people of Haryana. I am grateful to the party workers of Haryana as well… ” he said.

The BJP is set to form its third successive government in Haryana after it won 48 seats in the 90-member assembly as per the results announced on Tuesday. The Congress won 37 seats.

PM Modi Takes A Jibe At Congress

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, PM Modi took a jibe at Congress over its complaint and subsequent letter to the Election Commission regarding “slowdown in updating results” of assembly polls in Haryana and alleged that the opposition party wants to tarnish every institution.

Addressing party workers in Delhi after BJP victory in Haryana polls, PM Modi alleged that Congress has tried to mislead the people of the country.

“Whether it is the Election Commission of the country, the police, the judiciary, the Congress wants to tarnish every institution. You will remember the kind of ruckus they created before the results of the Lok Sabha elections. During the elections too, these people and their urban Naxalite allies had gone to the Supreme Court to tarnish the image of the Election Commission. Today also they have done the same. Congress has tried to mislead the people of the country. Congress always tries to question the impartiality of our institutions, tries to tarnish their reputation. This has been the habit of Congress. Congress has been doing such things shamelessly,” he said.

In a tragic incident, two women lost their lives and at least 15 others were injured after a pole supporting a pandal collapsed during a Navratri jagran (religious event) on Rahon Road late Saturday night. The tragedy unfolded when a sudden windstorm caused the pillars holding up the stage to fall, trapping several attendees. The incident was captured on camera, and the video, now viral on social media, shows the chaotic moment when the light frames fell, crushing people beneath them.

The religious event was being held near Govind Godham on Hambra Road, in the Dwarika Enclave area of Ludhiana. While two women were rushed to the hospital where they succumbed to their injuries during treatment, many others, including children, were injured. Several of the injured have since been discharged after receiving primary medical care, but some remain hospitalised. Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the incident.

According to reports, the iron pillars collapsed as a result of a sudden and powerful windstorm that struck just before midnight. In the viral video, a female singer can be seen performing a devotional song when the stage’s iron pillars suddenly give way, causing widespread panic and chaos.

Eyewitnesses report that around 2 a.m., following the storm, many attendees began to leave the event, but the organisers and the singer encouraged them to stay, assuring them that the situation was under control. However, the windstorm intensified again, and the pillars fell on the crowd.

After the incident, police detained the event organisers and the female singer, Pallavi Rawat, for questioning. Rawat later commented on the situation, stating, “I was just there for the performance. The wind came, and the light frame fell. How is this my fault?”

The police continue to investigate the incident to determine any lapses in safety measures and accountability.