Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of backing urban Maoists, who he said have ruined the lives of poor Adivasi youth.

Addressing his first election rally for the Assembly polls scheduled later this month, Modi also said the Congress makes “fun” of adivasis. “I don’t know why Congress makes fun of adivasis. Once I had gone for a rally in North-East India and wore a traditional adivasi headgear but Congress leaders made fun of it. This was an insult of adivasi culture,” he said.

Narendra Modi sports a traditional Assamese headgear. The Telegraph file picture

Modi said the Congress-led government did not do enough to develop the Naxal-infested Bastar region, citing the Maoist menace.

“The urban Maoists who live in air conditioned homes in the cities, look clean and whose children study abroad, remote control the Adivasi children in the Naxal-dominated areas,” Modi said.

“I want to ask the Congress why it supports the urban Maoists when the government takes action against them and come to Bastar and speak against Naxalism,” he said.

Describing Naxals as “monsters with (an) evil mindset”, the Prime Minister said earlier governments did not do enough for development of the Bastar region.

“Will you forgive such people? These people will not win Chhattisgarh. I appeal to you to ensure that BJP wins all seats in the Bastar region. If anyone else wins, it will be a blot on Bastar’s dreams,” he added.

Modi also said he would not rest until he fulfils the late Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dreams for a prosperous Chhattisgarh. “Chhattisgarh is now 18 years old. There are different dreams and aspirations of 18 year olds now,” he said.