WATCH: After Sri Lanka blocks Zakir Naik's channel, PM Narendra Modi attacks Congress "which could not stop praising him"

PM Narendra Modi on Wednesday during a rally in Itarsi in Uttar Pradesh slammed the Congress for praising Zakir Naik. 

"Close to 300 people died in the bomb blast in Sri Lanka. One of the measures against future terror attack they took was to ban Zakir Naik's TV channel. This is the same Zakir Naik in whose 'durbar' Diggi Raja could not stop praising him. you will be shocked to know about how thee people ran the country learn that it is the same Naik whom the Congress had invited to address the police officers and speak on terror. Doob maro Congress walo.

Earlier on Wednesday, PM Modi hit out at the party over its stand on terrorism. He also said that he has heard that Congress wanted him out of the way.

"I heard that someone from Congress had said here that take on Modi in such a way yhat he dies across the border. If the Congress has so much hate against Modi, that they dream about killing him," he said.

READ | Congress Politicises Gadchiroli Maoist Terror Attack Despite Operation Still Being Underway, Targets Modi Government

Itarsi town is part of the Hoshangabad Lok Sabha seat. The BJP has fielded sitting MP Rao Uday Pratap Singh from Hoshangabad while Congress is banking on senior party leader Shailendra Diwan to wrest the seat.

Earlier on Wednesday, within a couple of hours after the Maoist attack in Gadchiroli which took the lives of at least 16 jawans, Congress' spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala on Wednesday wasted no time in politicising it.

In a tweet, he spoke about the other Maoist attacks in the past during the PM Modi-led government's term and said that the Modi government's claims of securing India were "hollow".

"Strongly condemn the attack on C-60 Commandos in Gadchiroli. My condolences to their families. Their sacrifice would not go in vain. 390 Jawans have been martyred in Naxal attacks in past 5 years that expose hollow claims by Modi government of securing India," he said in the tweet.

READ | This Is The Line PM Modi Said At The Start Of His Ayodhya Speech That Made Dr Subramanian Swamy Go 'Super!!... This Is Enough'