EKTA NAGAR, KEVADIA: PM Narendra Modi Saturday attacked opposition for abandoning its constitutional duty and instead resorting to politics of 'obstruction', driven by "despair and disappointment". Addressing the Rashtriya Ekta Diwas parade - organised annually on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel - Modi recalled how Sardar Patel and BR Ambedkar had, while framing the Constitution, clearly laid down duties and roles of govt and opposition.

"Opposition is exercising politics of 'obstruction', in complete disregard of constitutional boundaries and propriety," he added.

Warning against divisive forces that have come out in the open after more than a decade of political frustration to plot conspiracies, pit citizens against one another, and weaponise social media to spread rumours and tarnish India's image, the PM urged citizens to recognise the patterns of such forces conducting secret foreign meetings, their external backing by anti-India elements, and their rhetoric echoing the nation's enemies. "We have ended Naxalism in remote areas, but the threat from ideological extremists (dimagi Naxals) is not yet over, and the country has to remain ever vigilant against such entities," he cautioned.

Stressing that the grand mission of national unity and the journey toward a strong and capable India must continue regardless of difficulties, the PM outlined the next major national priorities of fully securing India's borders, putting an end to infiltration and resulting demographic changes, and advancing toward a secular civil code. Acknowledging that major resolutions and bold decisions will inevitably face roadblocks and storms, he declared that the nation will not be deterred from the unwavering resolves of 'Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat' and a 'Viksit Bharat', working tirelessly with every breath and heartbeat toward the 2047 goal of a strong and capable India.