On 7th November 2013, the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Shri Narendra Modi commenced his campaign for the Chhattisgarh Vidhan Sabha elections, scheduled later this month. Shri Modi addressed public meetings in Jagdalpur (Bastar district), Kanker (Kanker district) and Dongargarh (Rajnandgaon district).
He made a strong appeal to the people of Chhattisgarh to give the BJP another chance to serve them and expressed confidence that under the leadership of Dr. Raman Singh, Chhattisgarh would even surge ahead of Gujarat in development in the coming five years.
Jagdalpur (Bastar District):
Speaking at a massive public meeting in Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district, Shri Narendra Modi urged the people to reject votebank and caste politics and vote for development. He asked the people to elect the government that works not only for the present but also for the future and added, “That can be done by the BJP.” Shri Modi affirmed that the development of Chhattisgarh under Dr. Raman Singh should not stop at any cost.
Shri Modi said that the Congress ruled the nation and several states for years but they did not think of the development of the tribal communities and added that during undivided Madhya Pradesh, Bastar was nothing but a picnic spot for their leaders who came and stayed among the tribal communities. Shri Modi shared that it was former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee who created a separate Ministry for tribal communities, so that the tribal communities can develop.
Paying his tributes to Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Shri Modi avowed, “We should always be grateful to Atal ji who created the state of Chhattisgarh. He was always concerned about the poor and the marginalized. Atal ji never gave slogans or talked in the air but he formulated policies after deep thought so that the poor can be served.” Shri Modi credited Shri Vajpayee for ushering in a new system for development of tribal communities be it by creating Chhattisgarh or his work in the North East.
The BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate lauded the people of Chhattisgarh for their vision and political foresight that they rejected the Congress in the first ever election after the state was created. He recalled the abysmal situation in Chhattisgarh during the Congress government for three years and talked about how BJP leaders were even hospitalized for protesting against the government. He said, “Chhattisgarh went into such hands that we feared Atal ji’s dream will fail and the march of development will stop. But I salute the people of Chhattisgarh for understanding everything and rejecting the Congress government at the very first instance.”
Shri Modi said that Chhattisgarh has witnessed great political stability in the last ten years, which is why it could scale new heights of development. He credited Dr. Raman Singh for his excellent work among the poor, in giving food to the poor and for skill development among the youth. He affirmed, “Dr. Raman Singh built medical colleges in remote areas and created opportunities for the youth. When you go to the poor and ask who is Dr. Raman Singh they will not know but if you say Chawal Wale Baba they will say yes he is our CM and has filled stomachs of the poor. If there is one state that gave a model law for food security it is BJP ruled Chhattisgarh.”
Comparing the actions of Dr. Raman Singh after the Congress leaders were attacked and that of the Bihar Chief Minister after the blasts in Patna on 27th October, Shri Modi said that it was a difference between a compassionate leader and one who is very arrogant. He shared that when the Congress leaders were attacked Dr. Raman Singh suspended his Yatra and went to meet the families of the deceased. Shri Modi opined that one could see the pain on his face but in Bihar, what was seen was arrogance of the leadership! Shri Modi stated that Dr. Raman Singh’s efforts were lauded during a National Security meet.
During his speech Shri Modi sharply criticized the Congress for the Party’s failure to curb rising prices
Kanker (Kanker district):
Addressing a well attended rally in Kanker, Shri Narendra Modi said that for a very long time the poor, marginalized, Dalit, tribal and OBC communities voted for the Congress with great expectations but got nothing in return from the Congress except poverty. Making a strong pitch to the voters to re-elect the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, Shri Narendra Modi said that these elections are not merely about choosing a MLA but the elections will decide the future of Chhattisgarh.
Shri Modi directly attacked the Congress for ruining the state in the three years they were in power. He said, “By the time Chhattisgarh grew 3 years old the Congress had ruined the state. But, the people of Chhattisgarh are good doctors who got a Doctor to cure the state of illness and made it strong. Had you not elected the BJP I do not know what would have happened.”
Profusely lauding the work of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, Shri Modi affirmed that if there is a Chief Minister who has performed well in the face of many adversities it is Dr. Raman Singh and that he has also won many award for his good work. Shri Modi opined that governments come and go but there are some people who leave a mark on the poor and one such person is Dr. Raman Singh. Shri Modi shared how the poor refer to him as ‘Chawal Wale Baba’ for his efforts to fill the stomachs of the poor and the hungry. He lauded Dr. Raman Singh’s efforts to reduce infant mortality in Chhattisgarh.
Commenting on the statement by the UPA Chairperson that the Congress party does not speak but does, Shri Modi said that it is very true. “Coal was lost but did they speak? Did they say they would do 2G? No they simply did. Beneath the land, on the land and in the skies they have done everything without saying. Nation knows you do without saying and it also knows what you say but do not do,” Shri Modi declared and went on to question the Congress on their promise to bring prices down and give jobs to 1 crore people. He added that earlier people believed the lies of the Congress but they will no longer believe it.
Shri Modi categorically stated that a Government cannot be for the rich but has to be for the poor. He came down heavily on the Congress Vice President’s statement that poverty is a state of mind and said that those who have not experienced poverty and those who spend Rs. 200/- on mineral water say that if one earns over Rs. 26/- per day one is not poor. Shri Modi was equally critical of statements by Congress leaders who said that a person could enjoy a full meal for Rs. 5/-.
All the public meetings of Shri Narendra Modi were attended by people cutting across all age groups, occupations, caste and creed. Local MPs, MLAs and other BJP Karyakartas were present on the occasion.
Watch : Shri Narendra Modi addresses a Public Meeting at Rajnandgaon in Dongargarh
