On the evening of 12th January, Shri Narendra Modi addressed a massive audience including karyakartas and supporters at Goa’s Vijay Sankalp rally.
Speaking highly of Goa CM Shri Manohar Parrikar, Shri Modi acknowledged and applauded the peoples’ decision of choosing him. He spoke about Shri Parrikar’s simplicity and his undying spirit to serve the people of Goa, while also expressing pride at the party’s organisation, working and leadership that duly recognized the potential of Shri Parrikar and appointed him as the CM.
Addressing the historic rally, which had over 2 lakh attendees, Shri Modi spoke about the underlying principles of BJP. Shri Modi said that the party had taught its leaders to be with the people in their happy and sad times, thereby creating an indelible impression on the minds of the people.
Speaking about inspiring leaders like Shivraj Chouhan and Raman Singh, who, inspite of being from very ordinary backgrounds devoted themselves to serving India, Shri Modi said, “Imagine the strength and foresightedness of this Party, wherein a child born in a poor house was taught and inspired to serve the nation,” said Shri Modi.
Calling upon the audience to vote for a Congress-Mukt Bharat, Shri Modi said, “People of India have decided to uproot the Congress. Congress Mukt Bharat BJP ka naara nahi hai, jan jan ka sankalp hai. When I say Congress Mukt Bharat, I mean not only the Congress Party leaders but the culture the Congress has come to represent. In various ways, through various leaders and parties, this Congress culture has spread across India. India needs freedom from this. Be it dynasty politics, nepotism, corruption, communalism, divisions in society or poverty, getting freedom from all this is what I mean by a Congress Mukt Bharat,” said Shri Modi.
Citing the bad governance of Congress which rendered all institutions useless, Shri Modi asked the audience if they were prepared to punish the people responsible for such a situation. Mentioning that under the Congress rule, power went into those hands where there was no accountability, Shri Modi stressed that such a situation was not right in democracy. Highlighting BJP’s strategy to tackle this, Shri Modi stated the Party’s belief in decentralization and assured that the focus would be on strengthening offices and institutions.
Talking about the thriving mining industry of Goa, Shri Modi questioned the audience about the hindrance faced by this industry when its access to raw material gets locked. He went on to say that the BJP was not only safeguarding the environment but also bringing transparency in mining for the growth of India.
Referring to the sad state-of-affairs in the Environment Ministry under the previous minister, Shri Modi stressed that while the Government in Delhi did not believe in doing anything worthwhile, it certainly prevented others from doing good as well.
Shri Modi also spoke about BJP’s efforts at strengthening the federal structure of India, whilst disapproving the recent statement by the Home Minister of India wherein he wrote to the CMs to ensure that members of a particular community were not arrested. “On the basis of religion, injustice should not be done to anybody. If one is innocent, he or she must be free but this must be for everyone,” said Shri Modi.
Commending the new way of thinking reflected in demanding special status for Goa, Shri Modi said, “I was given memorandum for Special Status for Goa. In India it means more money, but here I was told - we do not want money. I felt proud of the people. They told me we want special status for Goa's identity, for Goa's environment.”
Talking about Congress’ destructive politics, Shri Modi questioned the people if they had ever heard that a government voted by the people had become a burden for the people. He said, “People have to decide, will good happen by being on TV screens or through vision on the ground.” He went on to add further, “I have always lost on TV screens or in newspapers but I have never lost in the hearts of the people.”
Stating the BJP’s commitment at changing the future of India, Shri Modi said, “We need efforts to integrate the nation, not divide it. The 2014 elections is about voting for India. It is to decide what kind of India we want to create. So Vote for India. Neither for a person, nor for a party, let us Vote for India.” Concluding his address, Shri Modi also commended the commitment shown by the people of Goa, who turned out in large numbers at the recent Run for Unity.
BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh underscored the attributes of vision, conviction and courage of Shri Modi, and said that under Shri Modi’s leadership India was bound to develop and excel. He also spoke about the pioneering efforts of Goa CM Manohar Parrikar towards peoples’ welfare, and emphasized on the fact that it was under Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji’s leadership that prices were kept under control for 6 years.
Goa CM Manohar Parrikar, Rajya Sabha MP Smriti Irani, Deputy Chief Minister of Goa Francis D’souza, Goa BJP President Vinay Tendulkar, Lok Sabha MP Shripad Naik and MLA Mahadev Naik were present on the occasion.
