Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched his campaign for the BJP in the run-up to the assembly elections by urging the people of the state to elect a government with 'clear and comfortable' majority.
The PM began his address in Marathi. Switching on to Hindi, he said Mumbai will decide who will rule Maharashtra. "People need change, development and not the fights of lingual conflicts or regional conflicts. Mumbai is 'mini hindustan'. Each incidents reflects on entire nation. Today's youths wants to go ahead and wants development," he said at a huge gathering at Mahalaxmi Racecourse.
The charismatic leader said BJP cannot leave Mumbai at the hands of Congress and NCP and let them exploit it even more. "Mumbai has been dragged backward in last 15 years. Be guarded, none of the Mumbaikar can afford to make mistake this time and vote any other parties again. People will have to ensure that BJP comes to power with clear majority," said Modi.
Modi said the time has come to end "corruption, goondagardi, dadagiri". He said the practice of encroachment of plot, tenements belonging to slum dwellers and using force to throw people out of their own homes must be stopped.
He said that the country's youth wanted to take the country to new heights and were fed up of squabbles, including caste, and looked for speedy development. Targeting Congress, he said they need to give an account of their 60-year rule before pointing fingers at him.
Modi said the world was now looking at India with a new vision. "Why was Congress unable to achieve this in 60 years? he asked. Citing Amitabh Bachchan's popular TV show 'Kaun Banega Crorepati', he said the erstwhile Congress-NCP combine in Maharahstra were all the time playing a similar game to pocket billions.
Though he addressed three rallies on Saturday – in Beed, Aurangabad and Mumbai – Modi refrained from criticising former ally Shiv Sena. Though he did not even once refer to Sena, Modi invoked Maratha king Shivaji, the enduring icon of the latter.
'Not without my slum voters'
Clearly understanding the power of voters in slum pockets, Modi unmistakably tried to woo slum dwellers. By 2022, when the nation will be celebrating 75 years of independence, each slum dweller will have his own house, he said. Proper health care, power, water, sanitation and education will be made available to them. "I swear by your sweat that I will fulfil my promises and assure you that I will work towards that mission."
Infra projects will be delivered
Modi promised to ensure that his government will not only launch various infrastructure projects, but also complete them within five years. The projects include Navi Mumbai airport, Navi Mumbai – Mumbai Sea Link, Metro phase III and 100 per cent FDI in railways.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}