Congress Won't Apologise For Their Lies on EVMs As They Are Arrogant: PM Modi on SC Verdict

Panaji: After Supreme Court held that EVMs have strengthened India's democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday ripped apart Congress, saying that the Grand Old Party will not apoligse for misleading the country and defaming him as they are “in the seventh heaven with arrogance.”

Cornering the Congress over the EVM issue after the Supreme Court on Friday rejected pleas for reviving paper ballots and held that fears regarding tampering of the voting machines were unfounded, the PM accused the Congress of spreading lies. "Whenever they lose election, they blame it on EVMs. They have tried to create suspicion about EVMs," PM Modi said, addressing a rally in South Goa constituency.

"The SC has clearly stated that EVMs are good, and elections conducted through EVMs are good, and it has strengthened the democracy," PM Modi further added, asking the audience whether Congress should "apologise or not" over the issue.

"They won't apologise. They are in the seventh heaven with arrogance. They can go to any extent to defame Modi," he said.

PM Modi said that this election was clash between BJP's ideology of fulfilling the dreams and aspirations of Indians and the “INDI alliance which works for their selfish benefits and families.” Expressing confidence over the upcoming results, PM Modi said that after the conclusion of two phases of polling it is evident that it will be “Phir Ek Baar Modi Sarkar". “Modi is not born to (rest and) enjoy. Modi works day and night. Modi lives your dreams. Your dreams are Modi's `sankalp' (resolution).”

In his last speech in Goa, he had spoken about the BJP's saturation approach, the PM said.

"The saturation approach means `Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas', saturation approach means the benefit of government schemes should be provided to all without any differentiation. Goa is the right model of the saturation approach," he said.

Alleging that Congress and its INDI allies were creating negativity, PM Modi was unsparing in his criticism when it came to attacking South Goa's candidate Viriato Fernandes' claim that the Indian Constitution was forced on Goa. "Congress is insulting our Indian Constitution. Its Goa candidate has made a revelation which has exposed the reality of Congress and its hidden agenda that they are not bothered about the Indian Constitution. This is a ploy against the country," the PM said.

Article 370 which gave a special status to Jammu and Kashmir continued for so long because of this mentality, he claimed.

"INDI alliance is speaking about bringing back Article 370. Will we allow Article 370 to be brought back? Congress is involved in dangerous games to please its vote bank. Congress wants to give one part from SC, ST, OBC reservation to their vote bank. They have started the work in Karnataka," Modi alleged. He also claimed that the opposition party wanted to impose a 55 per cent tax on people's wealth.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Goa BJP chief Sadanand Shet Tanavade and the party's candidates Shripad Naik (North Goa) and Pallavi Dempo (South Goa) were present at the public meeting.

(With inputs from PTI)