VIJAYAWADA: Taking serious exception to the ‘racist’ slur of Congress leader Sam Pitroda on the skin colour of people of different regions in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday questioned the allies of Congress, particularly those from South and Western parts of India, if they would want to continue to support the grand old party and its divisive mindset.
Addressing an NDA election rally in Kalikiri of Annamayya district, Narendra Modi questioned if Congress chief ministers of Karnataka and Telangana, Siddaramaiah and A Revanth Reddy subscribe to Pitroda’s comments.
“Will DMK, a part of I.N.D.I.A, which takes pride in Tamil culture and heritage, snap ties with Congress on this issue?” he questioned.
Lambasting the YSRC government for its anti-people policies, Modi said the countdown for the fall of Jagan Mohan Reddy-led dispensation in the State has begun.
Later in the day, Modi along with TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and JSP president Pawan Kalyan participated in a roadshow in Vijayawada.
Modi said he was on a nation-building mission and was working very hard to take India to the top. But the Congress wants to take India in reverse gear. “The Congress is threatening to wind up all the new schemes being implemented by the NDA in the last 10 years once it comes to power. They say they would bring back Article 370, and cancel CAA, the schemes that help the poor with free ration and free medical check-ups. The Congress is also challenging the SC judgment on Ram Mandir with a vile intention to lock out the temple,” he alleged and asked people if it was acceptable to them.
The Prime Minister said the grand old party is detached and uprooted from the culture and traditions of India, and is always aiming to see that the country is divided. They even say that India is not one country and always propose division of the nation.
Stating that the comments of Pitroda, the confidant of the Congress family, and the mentor of ‘Shehzada’ (referring to Rahul Gandhi) showcase the divisive mentality of the Congress, Modi said it is very shameful.
“Congress believes that the people of the North-east look like Chinese and those from South India, like Africans, those from western parts of the country like Arabs and those from the North, like whites,” he said and asked if it was acceptable to the allies of Congress.
YSRC ministers instilled Rowdy Raj in State, shielding sand mafia, says Modi
The Prime Minister said it was not just Pitroda, but even Rahul Gandhi himself has commented while sitting with the youth. He had said that in the US, whites set the question paper, the blacks fail, and when blacks set the question paper, whites fail. “These comments are in line with those of his mentor,” he said and added that they were both calculated and intentional.
The Prime Minister said that even if Congress has no issues to discuss, it should not ridicule Indians this way. “Afraid of the outcome of the third phase of the elections, the Congress leaders are speaking whatever is coming to their mind. But the people are observing them,” he said and appealed to the people not to let Congress have its way, but to punish and not forgive it ever.
Training his guns at the YSRC government in the State, Modi said the people of Andhra elected YSRC with many hopes, only to have them dashed and the trust broken.
“That party did not develop the State, but patronised mafias. YSRC ministers instilled Rowdy Raj in the State. I am shocked to see that due to the sand mafia, the Annamaya dam was washed away, 25-30 villages suffered, and many lives were lost. The YSRC is shielding these sand mafias. I want them to know that their days are numbered,” he said.
Modi, who began his speech by hailing the hardworking nature of the people of Rayalaseema, talented youth, and farmers of the region, said under YSRC, even safe drinking water remains a dream. “Modi wants to provide safe drinking water to every household. However, the State government does not cooperate with the Jal Jeevan Mission.”
“Polavaram Project stands as an example of its incompetence. Farmers in Rayalseema have been troubled by the YSRC for years. When the NDA comes to power, irrigation projects will be completed at the earliest,” he assured.
Stating that when there is a strong government, the country will be strong, Modi said several people from Rayalaseema are in the Gulf countries.
“Today, in these countries, Indians have newfound respect. In case of any problems there, Modi saves them. Recently, our Indians were stuck in Qatar. They’d have never been safe if it had been the 10-year-old Congress in power. But it was because you entrusted the NDA government with your safety, that we could save them. All of this development shows why your vote should go to the NDA government,” he said.
Modi assured that major infrastructure projects are under various stages of execution in Andhra Pradesh. “Today the NDA government is on its way to making industrial corridors across the country. Starting from four-lane to six-lane highways, the Nandyal- Yerraguntla railway line is now ready. A new Kadapa-Bangalore Railway line will be laid. New Kadapa Airport shall have a new terminal and the works are under process. In the next five years, infrastructure shall be at its peak. We have already announced that bullet trains would be a reality in southern India too. You tell me, shouldn’t AP have its bullet train?” he asked.
He further declared, “In the next five years, infrastructure development will reach new heights. Special storage clusters will be constructed to support tomato cultivation in Rayalaseema, while the food processing industry will witness substantial growth. Farming and Food Production Organisations will receive essential assistance.”