Amroha (Uttar Pradesh), Apr 5 (IANS): Accusing the Congress of insulting Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, the author of the Indian Constitution, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that Babasaheb had challenged "the family" and paid for it because its generations continued to avenge him.

Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Vijay Sankalp Rally here, Modi said: "It is the compulsion of the vote bank that has forced the Congress to remember Babasaheb now. Otherwise, this party did not allow even a photograph of him in the Parliament for decades."

Elaborating on the BJP government's achievements, the Prime Minister said: "The vote bank politics has done great damage to the country. Goondaism was rampant and law and order absent in western Uttar Pradesh till a few years back.

"Criminal elements were free to roam around during the Samajwadi Party rule, but they have been reined in after the BJP came to power."

According to Modi, it was because of this goondaism and high rate of crime, as well the problems of electricity and bad roads, that people were scared of setting up industry in Uttar Pradesh.

"But we are making an honest attempt to change things to increase investor confidence in the state," he said.

The Prime Minister also thanked the government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) for selecting him for the prestigious Zayed Medal, the UAE's highest civilian honour.

"This is not an honour for Modi, but for the people of India. You are the reason for India's growing respect in the world, not Modi," he said.

The Prime Minister added that to maintain the country's high repute, a strong government was vital. "Only a strong government can take the country forward by taking big and tough decisions," Modi said.