Cong-NCP split a farce: Modi

He said everybody knows that these parties are actually one

Calling Congress-NCP split in Maharashtra a "farce", Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said they were one and the separation was meant to divert the attention of voters ahead of the Assembly poll.

"Congress and NCP parted ways just ahead of the poll. But everybody knows that these parties are actually one, they belong to the same clan, their nature and character is same. The split between the two is a farce meant to divert your attention," he said at a poll rally here in Ahmednagar district.

Accusing the erstwhile Congress-NCP dispensation in Maharashtra of being steeped in corruption, Modi said had it utilised the 15 years it was in power for the uplift of the people, the state would have been far ahead in terms of growth and law and order.

"15 years is not a small time. If their government had utilised its time for the uplift of people, to stop suicide by farmers, in maintaining law and order, in punishing terrorists in the harshest possible way and in providing employment to the youth, Maharashtra would have been far ahead than what it is today," Modi said.

He said the government was only in the "business of stealing the hard earned money of traders through Local Bodies Tax (LBT)" which he called "Looto Baato Tax (rob and share tax)."

"Today there is nothing left due to corruption by these politicians. There was corruption in providing homes to the widows of Kargil martyrs and in the Mid-Day Meal scheme for children. They have looted everything they could get their hands on," Modi said.