On the afternoon of 18th February, 2014, Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Bharatha Gellisi rallies at Davangere and Mangalore in Karnataka. Addressing the rally Shri Narendra Modi spoke on the key aspects of ensuring a Congress-Mukt Bharat, getting rid of corruption, ensuring prosperity of farmers and focusing on the development of coastal regions.
Addressing a large rally in Mangalore, Shri Modi highlighted a comprehensive vision for the development of India. He talked about the rich potential of coastal areas to emerge as development hubs. Shri Modi affirmed that in addition to port development, what is required is port led development. He also called for creating fishing harbours and called for integrating latest technology for the betterment of the fishermen community.
In Mangalore Shri Modi took on the Congress Party for their anti-people policies and their lies. He said, “Congress has ruined the nation and cannot tolerate if anyone asks them any questions. When someone asks them questions they are jailed. Congress also misuses institutions.” He further attacked the Congress for their corruption and false promises.
Expressing disdain and shock at the Congress’ strength to mislead the people, Shri Modi spoke of how for the Congress democracy was only about power, and nothing else. He mentioned the recent statement made by a Congress leader during his visit to Karnataka, wherein he had said that the Congress did not have a high command. “Do you believe this? Can the party run without high command,” asked Shri Modi, while stating that the Nation has known it for years that the Congress did not believe in democracy.
Attacking the sky-high arrogance of the Congress government, Shri Modi stated that they were least bothered about replying to the people on the rising concerns of inflation and corruption, while adding that even though they found the time to visit the rest of the country, they did not care to visit the people of Seemandhara and Telangana, where they had sowed the seeds of poison. “Andhra Pradesh put them to power in Delhi but see what have they done. They do not have the time to visit Andhra Pradesh when the people there need the support. Congress put salt on their wounds,” said Shri Modi. He further urged the people to vote out Congress in 2014 elections, by saying, “A small punishment will not do for the Congress. If we want to save India then the only Mantra is Congress Mukt Bharat.”
Shri Modi also expressed his displeasure at the Congress’ politics which was ruining the democratic system of the Nation. “Democracy has 4 enemies- dynasty, casteism, communalism and opportunism. Congress has all 4 in them,” said Shri Modi.
Attacking the form of politics followed by the Congress, Shri Modi said, “A Congress leader says Congress is a thought. It was surely a thought when Gandhi ji was alive, but after the Nakli Gandhis came, things have changed.”
Stressing on the difference in thoughts of both the parties, Shri Modi said that while the Congress focused on considering India a beehive, for the BJP it was our Bharat Mata. The Congress had Vanshvaad as their agenda, while the BJP’s focus was on Rashtravaad. The Congress’ sole aim was Raajneeti, as opposed to the BJP’s focus on Rashtraneeti.
Shri Modi further said that while the Congress wanted to divide the nation and rule it, the BJP wanted to unite the people and prosper it. “We have brought in values of nationalism, while you have been brought up in values of dynasty and nepotism,” said Shri Modi, attacking the appalling Congress attitude.
Taking opposition to the Congress’ thought of remembering the poor only for their benefit, Shri Modi said, “The Congress does not enjoy if they do not talk about the poor, but for us, when he hear about the poor, we do not get sleep.”
Shri Modi also spoke on the disturbing issue of women safety, while mentioning that under the Congress rule the national capital of Delhi had now become the rape capital. He further questioned the high-end yet false claims of the Congress of ensuring development by saying that inspite of their promise to reduce inflation within 100 days of their coming to power in 2009, the situation had only worsened. Shri Modi also stated how many Congress leaders in states like Rajasthan and Haryana were lying in jails, with their corrupt deeds. “The Country wants freedom from you and your thoughts. It does not want to get ruined any further,” said Shri Modi.
In retaliation to the Prime Minister’s statement that money doesn’t grow on trees, Shri Modi said that for the BJP money grew on the farmers’ land, reaped by the farmers’ hard work for growing good crop.
Shri Modi said that the Congress and corruption were twin sisters, with each going where the other goes. So if there is Congress there is bound to be corruption, and wherever there is corruption, the Congress would be present there.
He also asked the Congress party to stop spreading lies by saying, “They tell us we gave Bills but the BJP does not allow it to pass. Atleast speak the truth, people know your lies,” and adding that, in fact, it were the Congress Ministers who did not allow the Parliament to function smoothly. “Pehle dhool dale the ab mirchi bhi daal rahe hain logon ki aankhon me,” said Shri Modi.
Shri Modi highlighted the injustice done to the textile industry in Karnataka and how the sugarcane farmers and maize producers were being looted by not being given the due for their produce. He also congratulated Shri Yeddyurappa ji for introducing a different budget for agriculture, and spoke of adopting the 5-f strategy - involving farm to fibre, fibre to fabric, fabric to fashion, and fashion to foreign - whereby the entire process could be done at the same location and the final produce sent for export, thereby reducing on the time consumed and also saving costs.
Acknowledging the presence of the massive audience, despite the afternoon heat, Shri Modi assured the people that their affection and sacrifice will not go in vain. He urged the crowd to show their support for the BJP, and said, “You have given me a lot of love but now you must send a Lotus from every seat.”
Senior BJP leaders present on the occasions included Shri Prahlad Joshi, Karnataka BJP president, Shri GM Siddeswara, Lok Sabha MP from Devangere, Shrimati Shobha Karandlaje, former Karnataka Minister, Shri Ananth Kumar, BJP General Secretary, Shri BS Yeddyurappa, former Karnataka Chief Minister, Shri Shivkumar Udasi, Lok Sabha MP, former Deputy CM Shri Eswarappa, former CM Shri Jagdish Shettar, former minister R Ashok and Shri Arvind Limbavalli.
