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I SOLD TEA, BUT NOT NATION: PM MODI

Tuesday, 28 November 2017 | Nayan Dave | Gandhinagar

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched BJP’s

Gujarat blitzkrieg, calling himself son of the soil and unleashing
a vicious attack on the Congress for allegedly denigrating him. In
a jibe at the Congress, he said he sold tea but did not sell the
nation. Modi held altogether four rallies in the State on Monday.

Addressing a rally at Bhuj, Modi said people of the State will not
forgive those who are “insulting the son of Gujarat” who has
never had a single blot on his political career.

“You (Opposition) dare to come to Gujarat and say things against

the son of Gujarat? Will any Gujarati forgive people who make
charges against the son of Gujarat? No Gujarati will endure this
insult. This is my mother and I am its son.

“You (people) have helped me grow as its son. You have helped shape me. You gave strength and nurtured the good in
me, the people of Gujarat and Gujarat my motherland,” he said.

Comparing his party’s clear roadmap for the development of India, Modi said the Opposition did not have any definite
policy and programme on development. As he arrived at Lalan College ground in Bhuj in the morning, the Prime
Minister apparently became nostalgic. Ahead of the last Lok Sabha polls, he had set the tone for his party’s poll campaign
by addressing a similar rally as Gujarat Chief Minister from the same venue four years ago.

The rally was held to mark the Independence Day of 2013 and Modi was already appointed as campaign committee head
of the BJP for 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He made it a point to address the rally an hour after then Prime Minister
Manmohan Sigh’s speech from the Red Fort and challenged the Congress party to compare development work done in
Gujarat by his Government and development done by the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre in rest of the
nation.

In the backdrop of that historic rally at Lalan College ground, Modi once again donned famous red Kutchi turban and
launched a blistering attack on the Congress on the issue of national security. “I couldn’t understand why Congress
leaders are clapping after a Pakistani court decided to release a terrorist (Hafiz Saeed). When Indian soldiers were
standing strong against Chinese Army in

Doklam region, Congress leadership was busy in ‘Hugplomacy’ by hugging Chinese ambassador. What was that valour?”
he said.

They (Congress) had demanded videos of surgical strike carried out by our soldiers post Uri attack, said Modi, adding
that Indian soldier went inside the enemy territory to take revenge and not to shoot a feature film. “You even don’t
respect Indian army,” he criticised the opposition.

Referring to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, he said the difference between leaderships was visible now when you see
how Congress-led UPA Government reacted to the terror attack in Mumbai and how surgical strike was carried out in
retaliation of the Uri attack.

Modi said while the Congress is also raising issue of GST during Gujarat poll campaign, its representatives were present
during all GST meetings. Citicising double standard of the opposition party, he said in all those meetings the Congress
backed all decisions on GST.

“I would like to tell you with politeness that we are listening to suggestions on GST and in the interest of the nation the
central government would do everything,” he added.

Taking a dig at Congress party for promoting dynastic politics, he said the oldest political outfit is reduced to a single
family and it was not concerned about the country. He claimed that the present Government at Delhi was working for 125
crore people of India with a definite goat to achieve a new height of development.

Ahead of the rally at Bhuj, Modi made it a point to pay visit to the Ashapura Mataji temple and offered prayer there. He
instantly struck a chord with a large number of people present at the Lalan College ground as he initiated his speech in
Kutchi language.
Promising to start Roll on - Roll off (RoRo) ferry service in the Gulf of Kutch in lines with Ghogha-Dahej RoRo
inaugurated by him last month, Modi said when he was studying in school he read a news that RoRo service from
Ghogha to Dahej will start but under Congress rule the project never took off.

Addressing a rally at the Koli community dominated Jasdan in Rajkot distric, Modi said four Patidar Chief Ministers -
Chimanbhai Patel, Babubhai Patel, Keshubhai Patel and Anandiben Patel - became victims of Congress’s dirty politics.

In early seventies Chimanbhai and Babubhai became victims of Indira Gandhi inspired conspiracy, later Keshubhai
became victims of Khajuraho episode in which Shankersinh Vaghela was supported by Congress party. Latest Anandiben
became victim of pro-quota Patidar agitation that too is being supported by the opposition party, he said.

In his other rallies at Patidar dominated Dhari in Amreli district and later on at Kadodara near Surat in South Gujarat he
made similar points.

“They are feeling uneasy because a chaiwala became the PM. We used to read in books how the downtrodden get
harassed by those in higher strata. But I never imagined they would stoop so low,” Modi said in his speech in Gujarati at
Jasdan ahead of the first round of polling on December 9.

The second phase of elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held on December 14. The votes will be
counted on December 18.