Prime Minister Narendra Modi attacked all the opposition parties, especially the Congress, over the triple talaq issue at a public event in Uttar Pradesh’s Azamgarh on Saturday.

Speaking at the rally, the PM hit out strongly at the grand old party and its president Rahul Gandhi, for the latter’s reported remark on Congress being a party of Muslims.

“I read in a newspaper that Rahul Gandhi said that Congress is a party of Muslims. I am not surprised because former PM Manmohan Singh had said that Muslims have the first right on India’s natural resources,” said the PM amid chants of ‘Modi-Modi’.

“It’s okay if he [Rahul] says that Congress is a party for Muslims. My question to the naamdar [dynast] of Congress is: please tell me it yours is a party exclusively for Muslim men or does it include Muslim women? Does it have any place for the honour and dignity of Muslim women?” said the PM, who spoke after laying the foundation stone of the Purvanchal Expressway in Azamgarh.

Modi then raised the controversial issue of triple talaq underlining the plight of Muslim women in India and comparing it to the condition in Islamic countries.

“Crores of Muslim women had always demanded that triple talaq should be banned, as it is banned even in Islamic countries,” he said.

The criticism comes just days ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament during which the BJP-led government is likely to push for the passage in the Rajya Sabha of a bill against instant triple talaq.

The bill has already been passed in the Lok Sabha, but remains pending in the Rajya Sabha amid opposition reservations over it.

“Is there any place for the dignity and the rights of Muslim women? They have stalled legislation in the Parliament and they do not allow Parliament to run,” Modi said.

“Those who didn’t even like looking at each other earlier are now chanting ‘Modi Modi’. These people, out on bail and the dynast parties, now want to create obstacles on your path to development,” the PM said.

The PM’s remarks came a day after Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had accused the Congress of dividing the country on communal lines and playing a dangerous game before 2019 general elections.  Sitharaman demanded an apology from the Congress President for his reported remark.

Purvanchal Expressway

After laying the foundation stone for the expressway, Modi said that it will take Uttar Pradesh to greater heights. The 340-km Purvanchal Expressway will connect Lucknow, the state capital, with Ghazipur.

“More than Rs 23,000 crore will be spent on project. All cities, towns between Lucknow and Ghazipur, that fall on this route will witness a change,” he said.

The Prime Minister also said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has changed perception about Uttar Pradesh.

“Yogi Adityanath government has been able to control crime rate, corruption in Uttar Pradesh. He has contributed immensely in the state’s development,” Modi said.

He also said that the work on beside highways, waterways and airways is also being carried out.

Modi will also address rallies in Varanasi and Mirzapur and launch a slew of other development projects.