PM Modi: Congress gave hand-pump model, BJP delivered Narmada model
What's the story
Ahead of the upcoming Gujarat-elections'>Gujarat elections, PM Narendra Modi will address four rallies. He began with an election rally in Morbi. These will be followed by rallies in Prachi (Somnath), Palitana (Bhavnagar) and Navsari (south Gujarat).
Appealing to people, Modi said, "The Jan Sangh and BJP have (always) stood with the people of Morbi. One cannot say the same about the Congress."
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Water shortage
'BJP addressed issue of water shortage in Morbi'
Modi said that the main issue in Kutch and Saurashtra was that of water shortage. The BJP altered this situation and "got water of the Narmada to these regions."
He said BJP "initiated a mass movement to conserve every drop of water."
Further, he said as Congress's strategy, Morbi got hand-pumps; contrarily, under BJP's SAUNI Yojana pipelines were built, resulting in filling of dams.
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Modi asserts that BJP has taken steps for farmer welfare
Modi says for farmers, BJP didn't stop at improving the water situation. They also brought in the soil health card which has been proven "extremely beneficial." Through the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana, BJP helped farmers to improve their earnings.
Congress
Modi again trains his guns on Congress
Assailing punches at Congress, Modi said UPA government was "anti-Narmada" and that he fought hard to get the project executed. He remarked that there are several other issues that prove about Congress being anti-Gujarat.
Moreover, he reiterated his earlier claim that Congress is also anti-poor. He exclaimed that Congress wants 18% tax for basic necessities but wants cigarettes & alcohol to be cheaper.
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Former PM Indira Gandhi also receives brickbats in Modi's speech
Modi remembered former PM Indira Gandhi, saying when she came to Morbi, Chitralekha Magazine carried a photo of hers with a hanky over her nose, avoiding the foul smell; "but for Jan Sangh and RSS, streets of Morbi are fragrant, it's the fragrance of humanity."
Why the rhetoric?
What is the reason for Modi's heavy rhetoric?
Of the four rallies that Modi will address today, three are in Saurashtra and one in Surat. Both places are Patel community strongholds.
Modi's rhetoric is aimed at wooing BJP's core support base of Patels, after Hardik Patel has enthusiastically tried to mobilize them against BJP.
Meanwhile, Modi's rallies coincide with Congress VP Rahul Gandhi's rallies in Gir Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts.