Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took on both the ruling Left and the Congress-led opposition in Kerala and said enough is enough with both the outfits ruling the state and its against this that the BJP is putting forward a development agenda for the state.
He said like what happened in the country during the emergency under Jayaprakash Narayan, a smiliar situation is now being seen in Kerala.
“People have started to speak against misgovernance and tyranny and a message is being sent out to those in power. Kerala is now seeing the presence of large number of respected professionals coming to the BJP just like Metroman Sreedharan and this time it’s going to be the BJP-led NDA,” Modi said.
Modi arrived at Konni near here and was greeted by a mammoth gathering of BJP supporters.
Slamming the traditional rival fronts, Modi said over the years these fronts have committed seven sins.
“The sins include false pride and arrogance and they feel they can never be defeated and hence they behave with arrogance. The second sin is both are greedy and we have seen solar, dollar, gold, land and bar scams and over the years both these fronts have looted the state,” Modi added.
“I fail to understand which government will use lathis against devotees and this shows their anger towards their own people. The rival fronts have envy and are jealous of one another and they suffer from competitive corruption. Each of them are trying to beat the other in corruption and want to make money. Then they have lust for power and for that they will have alliance with communal and criminal forces,” Modi further said.
“The next sin is, both promote dynastic politics. Everybody knows what a Left leader’s son is doing, but I am not naming as all know who it is. Then there is laziness in work but when it comes to making money, there are no issues and as a result governance is paralysed in Kerala,” said Modi.
He said the BJP-led NDA government has always been considerate to Kerala and in the latest Union Budget an extensive highway plan worth Rs 65,000 crore for 1100 kms of road, besides Phase 2 of Kochi Metro and a fishing harbour at Kochi, has also been announced.
“I am sad to say that while access to drinking water under the PM Jalyojana scheme in the country has covered 20 per cent, in Kerala it stands at just 4.5 per cent. This is because of the poor attitude of the state government. In order to deny credit to Modi they deny water to the people. Please take the credit but don’t make people suffer,” said Modi.
Modi said the BJP-led NDA has worked for a FAST development programme for Kerala and to implement that, all should vote for the BJP, this time.
He left Konni to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and would come to Thiruvananthapuram for his last election rally in Kerala, which goes to the polls on April 6 to elect 140 legislators.
Prime Minister Modi arrived at Madurai on Thursday night and visited the famous Arulmigu Meenakshi Sundareshwar Temple clad in traditional Tamil attire of “Veshti”, white shirt and “Angavastram”.
Heavy police security has been deployed at Madurai with more than 4,000 policemen pressed into duty for the programme.
Narendra Modi will travel from Madurai to reach Pathanamthitta in Kerala where he will address the public programme at the Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium at 1.15 p.m.
He will reach Kanyakumari from Pathanathitta in Kerala where he will address a public meeting at Konni for the election campaign of Kerala state president of BJP, K. Surendran and other leaders at 1.15 p.m. at the Rajeev Gandhi Indoor stadium.
Prime minister will travel from Pathanathitta to Kanyakumari by helicopter.
At Kanyakumari, he will address the public at Vivekananda college ground at Agastheeswaram.
Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Pon Radhakrishnan is contesting from Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat where a bypoll was necessitated following the passing away of the sitting MP, H. Vasanthakumar of the Congress owing to Covid related ailments.
Pon Radhakrishnan had won from Kanyakumari in 2014 but in 2019 he lost to Vasanthakumar by a margin of 2,99,000 votes. The BJP is contesting elections in Tamil Nadu in alliance with the AIADMK and this has given much hope for Pon Radhakrishnan.
Other than the Lok Sabha candidate, the NDA candidates contesting the Assembly polls from Kanyakumari district and adjoining constituencies will participate in the Prime minister’s programme.
Security has been beefed up in Kanyakumari district and 3,500 policemen are deployed for the programme.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday raked up the famed Sabarimala temple issue and slammed the way the Pinarayi Vijayan government took on innocent devotees of Lord Ayyappa when they were beaten with lathis.
Modi, who is on his second trip to Kerala to campaign for the BJP candidates, reached Konni, near here and was greeted by a mammoth crowd. He began his speech by chanting ‘Swamiye Sharenem Ayyappa’ a few times and it was greeted by a huge applause.
“I am really happy to be in the land blessed by Lord Ayyappa because those devotees who arrive here come after observing 41 days strict vrithem (penance) which makes this place blessed. From Ayyappa we learned how to do good for all,” said Modi.
“But what has the Left government done, they tried to destroy the culture and portray the image of Kerala as a backward one. They carried out a mischief against the devotees. Instead of welcoming them with flowers, they were welcomed with lathis as if they were criminals. For decades the Left government is portraying Indian culture in poor light,” added Modi.
Recalling Ambedkar’s statement that there is no role for Communism in a democracy, he went on to say that, “Communism is like forest fire, it destroys itself and everything, but I tell you that the BJP will stand against trampling of our culture.”
“Devotees are not criminals. An ideology which has been rejected internationally will not be allowed to trample our culture. Our vision is inclusive and our work is extensive. We will further Kerala’s progress and protect the Sabarimala culture,” Modi said.
He ended his speech by asking all to vote for the BJP.
