Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a sharp attack on opposition parties during his Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (National Unity Day) address in Kevadia, Gujarat, on Saturday, October 31, 2026, accusing them of evolving into an “obstructive force” (Avrodh Paksh) intent on dividing the country.
Speaking at the Statue of Unity complex to mark the 151st birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Prime Minister asserted that opposition frustration over repeated electoral setbacks had escalated into deliberate attempts to derail national progress and undermine constitutional norms.
‘Avrodh Paksh’ and Foreign Link Allegations
Addressing a national gathering of security personnel, sportspersons, and citizens, PM Modi warned against covert attempts to create internal strife:
”The Opposition’s role is to oppose and challenge the government on policies, not create obstructions. It is our misfortune that the Opposition has turned into Avrodh Paksh. In their frustration and despair, these people are creating obstacles in the path of the country’s development… Vicious plots are being hatched to divide and instigate conflict among the children of Mother India.”
Taking an indirect swipe at Congress Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, the Prime Minister highlighted foreign engagements and digital disinformation campaigns targeting India’s international standing:
”Who is secretly meeting whom abroad? Which anti-India forces are supporting them? Who is speaking the language of India’s enemies? We must recognise all these patterns. Social media is being used as a weapon, rumours are being spread, and India’s image is being tarnished.”
Poverty Alleviation Metrics and End of Armed Naxalism
Reflecting on economic and security milestones achieved over the past decade, PM Modi contrasted historical political slogans with recent data on poverty reduction:
- Garibi Hatao vs. Targeted Delivery: The Prime Minister pointed to recent World Bank findings indicating that nearly 500 million Indians have exited extreme poverty over the last 10–12 years through targeted schemes including free foodgrain distribution, Ayushman Bharat healthcare coverage, PM Awas housing, and clean cooking fuel access under PM Ujjwala Yojana.
- Security Milestone: Confirming the operational containment of left-wing extremism, PM Modi declared: “I said last year that we would not rest until the country was free from Naxalism and Maoism; that promise has been fulfilled. Though we have finished armed Naxals, the threat of ‘dimagi Naxals’ (urban Naxals) remains very high.”
