#GujaratElection2017 : PM Modi slams Congress for defaming Gujarat
Dharampur, December 4: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday attacked the Congress party for defaming Gujarat. He said that Congress cannot tolerate or accept leaders from Gujarat and hence always displayed displeasure towards them and the people of the state.
While addressing a public gathering in Dharampur, Gujarat PM Modi while taking jibe at Mani Shankar Aiyar’s statement in media about elevation of Rahul Gandhi as Congress President, PM Modi said, “I want to congratulate Congress party for their Aurangzeb Raj.” Aiyar had earlier remarked that when Shahjahan or Aurangzeb took over, there were no elections then, and it was natural for the heirs of Badshah to get the throne.
PM Modi, on this occasion, also added, “Why has the Congress stopped saying BJP is anti-Muslim? Earlier, they would go out of the way to show their secularism but now we are all seeing what they are doing in this election, where they are going. Unfortunately for them, Muslims know their real nature.”
Questioning the Congress on why they did not give Constitutional Status to the OBC Commission, the PM stated, “We got a bill but when we did so, they stalled it in the Rajya Sabha. This anti-OBC Congress should be severely punished by the people.”
PM Modi also blamed the Congress party for lack of health infrastructure in tribal areas of Gujarat. In this context he shed light on initiatives like 108 Ambulance service undertaken by the BJP government that was ensuring better healthcare facilities for people in such areas.
PM Modi addressed a public rally in Bhavnagar, Gujarat:
- I fail to understand why is the Congress once again doing what it always did in the past- divide people, be it on caste lines, communal lines, between villages and cities. Congress has learnt 'divide and rule' from our colonial rulers rather well.
- Gujarat has grown due to the power of Shanti, Ekta and Sadbhavana.
- The people of UP know the Congress and their leadership well. And see how they have rejected Congress repeatedly.
- Congress has a very 'able' lawyer in Kapil Sibal. He is always handling all the indefensible and wrong matters. In 2007 he came to Viramgam and said after the results are out Modi will be in Jail. He was very powerful in that government.
- I am seeing videos of Congress supporters saying, vote for Congress on 9th and 14th and then we will do 'Dadagiri' for 5 years. This is not the Gujarat that the people desire.
- I appeal to the Congress to stick to the truth. The people of Gujarat do not like poll time lollipops and false promises of the Congress.
Interestingly, Gujarat will decide the fate of BJP and Congress in two phases. The first phase of Gujarat polls will be held on 9 December 2017 for 89 seats while the second phase of voting will be held on 14 December 2017 for remaining 93 seats. Counting of votes will be done on December 18 of this year.
Currently, BJP has 120 legislators in Gujarat assembly, while the opposition Congress has 47 MLAs. While the latter had won 59 seats in the last assembly polls in 2012, a dozen of its legislators had recently left the party with some of them joining the ruling BJP. The term of the 182-member Gujarat Assembly ends on January 22.
