Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that terrorist attacks had become a regular affair during the Congress-led UPA rule and that India is much much safer now. 

“When there was Congress government at the Centre, terrorist attacks had become a daily affair. No city was safe in their tenure. Everyone knows how terrorists attacked Mumbai in 2008. What happened in Mumbai at that time was neither the first nor the last,” he said at an election rally in Rajasthan’s Karauli.

The PM was referring to the three-day-long 26/11 attack carried out by 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists from Pakistan which left 166 people dead.

“In 2008 January, there was attack on CRPF camp in Uttar Pradesh. In May, there was a bomb blast in Jaipur. In July, there were serial blasts in Bengaluru. Next day, bomb blasts in Ahmedabad. In September, there were two terror attacks in Delhi. In October, serial blasts in Guwahati, Agartala and Imphal,” the PM continued, underlining the series of terrorist and terror-related incidents that rocked India from 2004 to 2014.

The PM, who is looking for a second term in office, also drew attention to the two occasions when the Indian Premier League (IPL) was shifted out of India, claiming that it was because the UPA government was “scared of terrorists”.

“There were two occasions when it could not be played in India; it was played in South Africa. This happened in 2009 and 2014. The government at the Centre was so scared of terrorists. That government had no courage,” he said.

“In 2009 and 2014 they said, there’s election. Police is busy so can’t have IPL. There are elections now; there was Navratri, Ramnavmi and Hanuman Jayanti, too. Ramzan will be here. But IPL is going on. Pehle poonch daba ke bhaagne waali sarkar mein thi, aur ye Modi seena taan ke jata hai (Previously there was a government that ran with its tail between its legs; this Modi moves around with his chest high),” the PM added.

The PM also slammed the grand old party for questioning the timing of the UN decision on Maulana Masood Azhar and repeatedly alleging that India’s achievements are benefitting Modi.

“Congress is unable to digest the better security situation of the country. Instead of celebrating the designation of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, the Congress made fun of itself by questioning why this happened during elections. Was it the Modi cabinet’s decision?” the PM said at the massive rally in this city located close to Gwalior and Agra.

Hailing Wednesday’s UN decision of placing the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief under the United Nations Security Council 1267 sanctions, the PM said that the Pakistan-based terrorist was “giving India injuries after injuries”.

“Several brave mothers of Rajasthan lost their brave sons while they attacked such terrorists but now this terrorist is finding it difficult to enjoy in Pakistan,” he said addressing the gathering.

“Surgical strike, air strike and now this major international strike on intentions of Pakistan, terrorists and terrorist leaders,” he said underlining the actions taken against terrorism by his government.

At the rally, the PM also said that he is constantly taking updates regarding Cyclone Fani from the officers. He said that he held a review meeting on Thursday.

The PM said that over Rs 1000 crore have been released to the concerned governments of the state which will be affected by the cyclone.

“NDRF, Indian Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force are working with administration. I assure the affected people that nation and Centre are with them,” he said.

Polling in Rajasthan will be held in two phases, the first of which was held on 29 April in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies. The remaining 12 parliamentary constituencies of the state will go to polls on 6 May.