TSIT ■ Surendranagar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra, saying those who have been thrown out of power are taking out foot march to get back to power.
Addressing a gathering in Surendranagar town of poll-bound Gujarat, Modi also said instead of talking about development during elections, the opposition Congress is saying it will show him his “aukat” (status). “Now, the Congress does not talk about development during elections. Instead, Congress leaders
are saying they will show Modi his aukat. Just look at their arrogance. They, indeed, belong to a royal family, while I am merely a servant having no aukat,” he said. “In the past, the Congress had used words like ‘neech aadmi’, ‘maut ka saudagar’ and ‘naali ka keeda’ for me. I urge you to talk about development instead of playing this game of ‘aukat’,” the PM said, adding that he swallows such insults because his focus is to make India a developed
nation. Elections to the 182-member Gujarat Assembly will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5. Modi said people who were dethroned long back were taking out yatra to get back the power. “Some people are doing foot march to get back to power. They are also taking along those who had stalled the Narmada project for 40 years through litigation and kept Gujarat thirsty for 40 years. In this election, the people of Gujarat will punish those who are doing this padyatra. They can do it but they are walking with those who stalled the Narmada dam project for 40 years. Modi was referring to Narmada Bachao Andolan spearhead Medha Patkar joining the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra in Maharashtra recently.
“The people of Gujarat have decided to punish those who stalled the Narmada dam project for 40 years,” the PM said.
“In the past, the Congress had used words like ‘neech aadmi’, ‘maut ka saudagar’ and ‘naali ka keeda’ for me. Now, instead of talking about development during polls, Congress leaders are saying they will show Modi his aukat,” he said. Modi has no status, he is the servant of people, the PM reiterated.
