Andhra Pradesh , May 8 :
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday attacked the Congress over its party leader Sam Pitroda’s alleged comments over skin colour and asserted that the countrymen would not tolerate insult on the basis of skin colour.
Hitting out at top Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Modi said he has now understood that the national party sought to defeat President Droupadi Murmu in the presidential poll as her “skin colour is dark”.
As Pitroda’s reported comments kicked up a row, Modi asked, “will the ability of people be decided in my country on the basis of skin colour.” “Who gave the permission to ‘shehzada’ for this game of skin colour,” he asked.
Pitroda’s alleged comments that people in the East in India resembled the Chinese, while those from the South looked like Africans, had kicked up a row.
“I am angry today. If anyone abuses me, I don’t get angry. I can tolerate that. But, the philosopher of ‘shehzada’ gave such a big abuse which has filled me with anger,” Modi said.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi showing Constitution in his election rallies, he asked whether those who dance by keeping Constitution on their head were insulting the countrymen on the basis of skin colour.
India would not tolerate insult to the countrymen on the basis of skin colour, he said, adding ‘shehzade’ (Rahul Gandhi) must answer.
Modi also said he has now come to know as to why Congress had sought to defeat Murmu in the presidential elections despite her having a great reputation.
“I came to know today that an uncle of ‘shehzada’ lives in America. The uncle is his philosopher and guide,” he said in an apparent reference to Sam Pitroda.
“Shehzada’s philosopher and guide uncle has opened a big secret. He said those whose skin colour is dark, they are all from Africa,” he said.
That means, he (Pitroda) has abused so many people of the country on the basis of skin colour, he alleged.
Whatever is the colour of skin, the countrymen worship Lord Sri Krishna whose skin colour was like all of us, Modi said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on the Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) on Wednesday, accusing the party of “betraying” the people of the state over development and running a ‘Gunda Raaj’ in Andhra Pradesh.
The Prime Minister said the YSRCP government prioritised the development of the mafia over the underprivileged people of the state.
Addressing a public rally at Rajampet in Annamayya district here, Prime Minister Modi said, “The people of Andhra Pradesh formed the YSRCP government with a lot of expectations but were betrayed. YSRCP did the development of mafia and not
PM asks Rahul Gandhi
the poor people. The way the ministers of YSRCP are running a ‘Gunda Raaj,’ everyone has seen it.”
“YSRCP ke mantri kaise yaha ‘Gundgardi’ karte hai, yaha ‘Rowdy Raaj’ chalate hai vo sabke samne hai,” said the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said, “I am amazed that the government here supports the mafia responsible for the Annamayya Dam break, which devastated 25-30 villages and killed a dozen people.”
PM Modi said that the YSRCP government in the state is nearing an end and that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance will treat the mafias in the state permanently.
“I would like to tell this kind of mafia here that the countdown to the end of the YSRCP government has begun. The NDA government will treat the mafia here and will give it permanent treatment,” said the Prime Minister.
Reiterating his party’s slogan of “double engine ki sarkar (double-engine government)”, PM Modi said that the development works that had been long pending here under the governance of the YSRCP would be fulfilled by the Bharatiya Janata Party.
“You all have trusted others for so many decades, but what did you get? There is no development here, there are no irrigation facilities, no industries, farmers are struggling, and the youth have to go to other cities for work,” he said.
“You tell me what will help you in this situation? A double engine government,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi added, “There is no limit to the potential of Rayalaseema, there are mines and minerals, there are divine and grand temples, there are hardworking farmers and talented youth and there is immense tourism potential.”
“That is why Modi is here today to seek your blessings. Modi’s goal is the development of Rayalaseema and the development of Andhra Pradesh,” said the PM.
Taking a dig at the YSRCP, PM Modi said that the people of the state have requirements for clean water but the state government here does not cooperate with the centre’s Jal Jeevan Mission.
“Clean water is essential in your life. Modi wants to supply clean water to every home through pipes but the government here is not even able to cooperate with the Jal Jeevan Mission. You have been watching what they did with the Polavaram Project for all these years,” he said.
“The YSRCP did not provide irrigation facilities to the farmers of Rayalseema. If the NDA government is formed here then irrigation projects will be completed quickly,” he added.
The Prime Minister further said that the country becomes strong only if the government ruling it is strong and asked, “Is India strong today or not?”
“Many of my friends here are from Gulf countries, today the respect for the Indians in the Gulf has increased. If anyone from India has a problem, it is Modi who solves it,” he said.
The Prime Minister mentioned the eight Indian Navy veterans who were released from the Middle-East country earlier this February and said that it all happened due to the efforts of the Indian government.
“Our Navy veterans arrived from Qatar after an 18-month jail stay in the Middle-East country due to the efforts of the Centre. If such a situation had occurred 10 years ago under the Congress leadership, it would have been difficult for them to survive, but we brought them back safely,” said PM Modi.
“This happened because you formed a strong NDA government and that is also why each and every vote of yours should go to NDA,” added the Prime Minister.
The ruling YSRCP is contesting alone in all 25 parliamentary constituencies and the 175 seats of the state assembly.
It is up against the Congress-led INDIA bloc and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former CM N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party (JSP).
Notably, the TDP, Janasena and BJP are NDA alliance partners in the southern state.
As part of a seat-sharing deal among NDA partners, the TDP was allocated 144 Assembly and 17 Lok Sabha constituencies, while the BJP will contest from six Lok Sabha and 10 Assembly seats.
Janasena will contest two Lok Sabha and 21 Assembly seats.
Elections for the 175-member Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled for May 13 and the counting of votes will be held on June 4.
