Starting his speech by paying tribute to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his jayanti and saying that Upadhayaya’s thoughts are an an inspiration for the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the Congress of looking for support outside the country, in a veiled reference to Pakistan whose former Minister recently tweeted in favour of Rahul Gandhi.

In an apparent reference to the corruption allegations over the Rafale fighter jet deal, Modi accused the Congress of indulging in mud-slinging against the Government, saying the Opposition party found it easier than debating issues like development.

Addressing a rally here ahead of Madhya Pradesh Assembly polls, along with BJP chief Amit Shah, Modi slammed vote-bank politics and the practice of triple talaq.

The Congress has been reduced from 440 seats in the Lok Sabha to 44 seats due its “arrogance” but it is still not ready to introspect or correct itself, he said.

“What a condition the 125-year-old Congress been reduced to! Nothing remains in the Congress... You need to look for the Congress party with a microscope now,” he said at the rally also addressed by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

BJP president Amit Shah said the process of evicting illegal infiltrators from the country will not stop. Referring to the NRC, Shah said, “The process to evict illegal infiltrators will not stop, irrespective of the Congress’ opposition.” The recently published NRC has identified 40 lakh as illegal immigrants, he added.

Mocking the Congress, Modi said the party has been reduced to such a condition that it is “begging” with small parties for alliances.

He went on to add, “Even if they get allies, the coalition will not be successful. So, they (Congress) are looking for support from outside India...Now, will some countries decide who will become the Prime Minister of India?”

He was apparently referring to a tweet by former Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who had said Rahul Gandhi will be next PM of India if he follows “Jet Gate” (Rafale deal) properly.

Modi asked, “Congress, what has happened to you? Have you lost (mental) balance after losing power?”

At the rally seen as launch of poll campaign, the Prime Minister said vote-bank politics, like termites, has destroyed the country. Apparently referring to the charges of corruption being levelled by the Congress in the Rafale fighter deal, the Prime Minister said, “They (Congress) are indulging in mud-slinging because they find it easier.” He said the Congress had indulged in “mud-slinging” earlier too. “But I want to tell them, the more you throw mud at us, the more the lotus (BJP’s symbol) will bloom,” he added. Modi said the Congress’ attempts to defame him in the last two decades haven’t worked. “Ever since I came into politics in 2001, you (Congress) have used all your strength to hurl abuses at me. There would not be a single abuse left in the dictionary now,” he said.