by: Nav Jeevan

Modi leads BJP blitzkrieg, accuses Cong of ‘slave’ mentality, insulting Sardar Patel

  • Congress blaming EVMs indicates it has accepted defeat: PM Modi
  • Modi also slamms past Congress governments for `widening’ the rift between the rich and the poor in the country and “looting” the funds meant for the welfare of the poor.

  • PM Modi’s 51-Km Long Mega Roadshow covers 16 constituencies in Ahmedabad

NE NEWS SERVICE

AHMEDABAD, DEC 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday accused the Congress of disowning Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and said it absorbed ‘slave mentality’ after working with the British, before Independence. He also said the Congress alleging tampering of Electronic Voting Machines is an indication that it has already accepted defeat in the Gujarat Assembly elections.

He was speaking at a campaign rally at Sojitra town in Gujarat’s Anand district where voting will take place in the second phase of the state Assembly elections on December 5.

“The Congress has a problem not only with Sardar Patel but also with the unity of India; because their politics is based on the policy of divide and rule while Patel believed in uniting everyone. Due to this stark difference, Congress never considered Sardar Patel as their own,” the PM said.

The Congress’s ‘policy’ of inciting one community, caste or religion against another weakened Gujarat, Modi said. “Congress people had worked with the British for several years (ahead of Independence). As a result, the party absorbed all the bad habits of the British, such as this policy of divide and rule and the slave mentality,” he added.

The opposition party’s leaders avoid visiting the Statue of Unity, Patel’s statue and memorial in Narmada district, he alleged. “Just because the statue has been built by Modi, Patel became untouchable for you? I am sure that people of Anand district will punish Congress for insulting Sardar Patel,” the PM added.

Congress blaming EVMs indicates it has accepted defeat: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the Congress alleging tampering of Electronic Voting Machines is an indication that it has already accepted defeat in the Gujarat Assembly elections. Voting for 89 seats in the first phase of the Gujarat elections took place on Thursday.

“The way Congress has started blaming EVMs after yesterday’s voting in Kutch, Saurashtra and south Gujarat, it is evident the opposition party has conceded defeat and has accepted that the BJP will win the election. Alleging EVM tampering is an indication the Congress is on its way out,” said Modi.

He was speaking at an election rally in Patan town of north Gujarat where voting will be held along with remaining 92 seats on December 5. “The Congress knows only two things, abuse Modi ahead of polls to please the voters and then blame EVMs after voting. This proves the Congress has accepted defeat,” the prime minister said.

He also slammed past Congress governments for `widening’ the rift between the rich and the poor in the country and “looting” the funds meant for the welfare of the poor. “A former Congress PM used to say that out of Rs 1 sent by the Centre, only 15 paise reaches the poor,” Modi said, referring to the late Rajiv Gandhi’s famous quote.

“In those days local bodies, state governments and the Centre were ruled by the Congress. The BJP was not in the picture. So which `palm’ was responsible for siphoning off 85 paise?” he said, in a dig at the Congress’s poll symbol (hand). After he became prime minister, he plugged all such loopholes, Modi added.

PM’s 51-Km Mega Roadshow covers 16 constituencies in A’bad

The 51-kilometre PM Modi’s roadshow said to be the longest the country has seen, spanned 16 assembly constituencies which will poll in the second phase on December 5.

The roadshow, where thousands marched while waving party flags and to the sound of joyful drums, was the biggest event for the BJP in the Gujarat assembly elections. The Prime Minister waved to the ecstatic people lining the roadways as he rode an open vehicle decorated with garlands.

PM Modi covered 16 constituencies during his mega roadshow, including Thakkarbapanagar, Bapunagar, Nikol, Amraiwadi, Maninagar, Danilimbda, Jamalpur Khadia, Elisbridge, Vejalpur, Ghatlodia, Naranpur and Sabarmati. During this, the locals showered flower petals on PM Modi. They also jammed every possible space—roads, balconies, rooftops of buildings—to get a sight of the Prime Minister. In the roadshow, special care was taken that no emergency services were hampered and the same was seen when an ambulance was given way during PM Modi’s roadshow.