Ahead of the General Election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public meeting in Maharashtra’s Nanded on Friday amid overwhelming support from supporters of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Nanded votes in the Phase 2 of the election on April 26.
“We have the popular support of first-time voters with us. The INDIA alliance has come together to save and protect their corruption and the people have thoroughly rejected them in the first phase of polling. The country is voting for the BJP-NDA for a ‘Viksit Bharat’. The INDIA alliance is not able to tell the citizens of India who their combine’s leader will be,” Mr. Modi said.
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Mr. Modi attacked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, calling him shehzada (prince). “Congress’ shehzada now has no choice but to contest from Wayanad, but like he ran away from the Amethi seat in 2019, he may run away the same way from Wayanad. Congress may make big claims but in reality, Congress leaders had already accepted defeat before the announcement of the election dates,” he said.
The PM blamed the Congress for stalling development. “Congress is the wall between the development of Dalits, poor and deprived. Congress even today opposes any developmental work that our government intends to carry out. One can never expect them to resolve any issues and people cannot expect robust developmental prospects from them,” he said.
Mr. Modi also accused the Congress of preventing development in Marathwada and Vidarbha. “For decades, the Congress stalled the development of Vidarbha and Marathwada. It is because of the policies of the Congress that both Marathwada and Vidarbha are water deficient, their farmers are poor, and there are no prospects for industrial growth. Our government has enabled ‘Nal se Jal’ (tap water) for 80% of the households in Nanded. Our constant endeavour has been to facilitate the empowerment of our farmers through a record rise in MSPs (minimum support prices), income support through PM-KISAN (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi), and the promotion of ‘Sree Anna’,” Mr. Modi said.
“To treat every wound given by Congress is Modi’s guarantee. The Shaktipeeth highway and Latur Rail Coach Factory is our commitment to robust infrastructure. We aim to foster the development of the Marathwada region in the next five years,” Mr. Modi said.
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The land of Nanded reflected the purity of the Sikh gurus, Mr. Modi said. “We are guided by the principles of Guru Gobind Singh-ji. Over the years, we have celebrated the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev-ji, the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Teg Bahadur-ji, and the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh-ji. Whereas the Congress has always opposed the Sikh community and is taking revenge for 1984. It is due to this that they oppose the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) that aims to bring Sikh brothers and sisters to India, granting them citizenship. It was our government that brought back the Guru Granth Sahib from Afghanistan and facilitated the Kartarpur Corridor. Various other decisions, including the abrogation of Article 370 and the abolition of triple talaq have greatly benefitted our Muslim sisters and brothers,” he said.
“The INDIA alliance only believes in vote bank politics. For this, they have left no stone unturned to criticise and disrespect ‘Sanatana’. It is the same INDIA alliance that boycotted the pran pratishtha of Shri Ram (in Ayodhya),” Mr. Modi said.
“We all must strive to ensure that India becomes a ‘Viksit Bharat’, and for that, it is the need of the hour to vote for the BJP-NDA. I am confident to see Modi 3.0 with the support of people,” he said.
Maharashtra votes in the second phase of the Lok Sabha election on April 26.
