Shri Modi addresses public meetings in Savarkundla, Dhrangadhra, Surendranagar and Dholka 

Shri Modi ends his public meetings in the seats that go to the polls in Phase 1 of the 2012 Gujarat Vidhan Sabha elections 

CM punctures lies spread by Mr. Rahul Gandhi while campaigning in Gujarat 

Mr. Rahul Gandhi said I am walking on Mahatma Gandhi ji’s path but if he is actually walking on Gandhi ji’s path then one wish of Mahatma Gandhi would not be left incomplete- which was to disband the Congress after Independence. 

Do the youth want jobs or mobile phones? Do the women want to see prices come down or they want mobile phones? In any case, if half the nation is under darkness under your rule, where will we charge these mobile phones? Asks Shri Modi 

Mr. Rahul Gandhi talks of respect for Vidhan Sabha but from May 2011 to May 2012 Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s attendance in the Lok Sabha was 24 out of 85 sittings. From 2010 to 2011 it was 19 out of 72 sittings: CM 

If Mr. Rahul Gandhi has so much respect for the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha, he should tell the Gujarat Governor to pass bills that the democratically elected assembly has passed: Shri Modi 

CM appeals people to vote in large numbers, seeks great participation by women voters

On Tuesday 11th December 2012 Shri Narendra Modi addressed a large public meeting in Savarkundla (Amreli district), Dhrangadhra (Surendranagar district), Surendranagar city and Dholka (Ahmedabad). With this, Shri Modi ends his public meetings in all those areas that go to the polls during the first phase of the Gujarat elections on 13th December 2012. The Chief Minister spoke at length about the development initiative in the state over the last 11 years and pointed out that even while criticizing the Gujarat Government people talk about development but in case of the UPA all that is talked about is scams, loot, price rise etc.

In his unique style he punctured all the lies spread by Mr. Rahul Gandhi, who campaigned in Gujarat this morning. He pointed out that he addresses more public meetings in one day than what Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, Dr. Manmohan Singh and Mr. Rahul Gandhi have done during the entire campaign. Shri Modi said, “Today Mr. Rahul Gandhi came and said I have a close relation with Mahatma Gandhi. But you were not even born then!” Speaking about Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s anecdote on Mahatma Gandhi sleeping on the floor in Anand Bhawan, Shri Modi declared, “It was Mahatma Gandhi’s greatness and his affection towards Nehru that he slept on the floor but the real issue is Mr. Motilal Nehru sleeping on the bed when his son was in jail!”

Referring to Rahul Gandhi he added, “He said I am walking on Gandhi ji’s path but if he is actually walking on Gandhi ji’s path then one wish of Mahatma Gandhi would not be left incomplete- which was to disband the Congress after Independence.” Shri Modi urged the people of Gujarat to turn this dream of Mahatma Gandhi into reality in Gujarat.

Shri Modi exposed the lack of issues in the Congress campaign. Again referring to Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s comments on the Congress bringing mobile phones the Chief Minister asked, “Do the youth want jobs or mobile phones? Do the women want to see prices come down or they want mobile phones? In any case, if half the nation is under darkness under your rule, where will we charge these mobile phones?” Shri Modi said that instead of talking about what the Congress will do for the nation, they are stuck on mobile phones.

Delivering a sharp reply on the Congress General Secretary’s statement that the Vidhan Sabha does not meet for more than 25 days, Shri Modi shared that from May 2011 to May 2012 Shri Rahul Gandhi’s attendance in the Lok Sabha was 24 out of 85 sittings. From 2010 to 2011 it was 19 out of 72 sittings! “If you had respect, you would go for all sittings!” he commented. The Chief Minister stated that if Shri Rahul Gandhi has so much love for the Vidhan Sabha, he should know that in Gujarat the Assembly has debated issues even for days on end but the attitude of the Congress has not been positive. “We discuss issues for many days and bills are passed. But sadly Congress does not respect Vidhan Sabha also!” he commented. 

The public meetings were very well attended by people across al age groups and communities of society.

Shri Modi said that if Mr. Rahul Gandhi has so much respect for the Gujarat Vidhan Sabha, he should tell the Gujarat Governor to pass bills that the democratically elected assembly has passed. Be it GUJCOC or a Bill to give equal seats for men and women in local bodies, these crucial bills are pending at the table of the Governor.

On Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s charge about RTI applications, Shri Modi said that the people should ask Mr. Rahul Gandhi about the pending applications in Delhi and pointed out that over 3 lakh RTI applications are pending in Delhi.

The Chief Minister posed a direct question to the Congress- what happened to the 1 crore jobs you promised in 2009? “You took the votes but has any youngster here got a job from Delhi? he questioned. Answering the Congress lie that there is unemployment in Gujarat he affirmed that the records of the Centre clearly state that if there is one state with least unemployment it is Gujarat. Also, the Government of India records show that out of all jobs created in India, 72% of them are created in Gujarat.

He talked at length about the disastrous anti-farmer policies of the UPA, which enforced the cotton export ban caused a loss of Rs. 7000 crore to the farmers of Gujarat. Shri Modi affirmed that he does not want to see the cotton farmer of Gujarat to be left at the mercy of the Centre, which is why the Gujarat Government got the New Textile Policy that will bring a qualitative difference in the lives of the farmers. He shared that the Policy would generate lakhs of jobs for people.

Shri Modi urged the people to come out and vote in large numbers and said that these elections are not about deciding who the next MLA will be but to decide who to hand the future of Gujarat to and who will steer the state to newer heights of development in the coming years. The Chief Minister stated that just like we cannot leave the keys of our house to unknown people even we are away for 15 days, we cannot leave Gujarat with unknown hands for the next 5 years. He pointed out that the people of Gujarat know him well and have seen him work for the state and he sought their blessings to serve them for 5 more years.

Terming the attitude of the Congress led UPA as anti-Gujarat, Shri Modi affirmed that instead of presenting Gujarat as a beggar state by invoking the money that is coming from Delhi, the PM should share that Gujarat contributes Rs. 60,000 crore to Delhi every year! “Is Gujarat a beggar state? Are we living at Delhi’s mercy? The Prime Minister’s language does not suit the office he holds!” avowed Shri Modi.

 

Watch : Shri Modi addresses a gathering in Savarkundla, Amreli

Giving an example of the development work in Saurashtra, Shri Modi talked about the SAUNI Yojana and stated that this scheme of Rs. 10,000 crore will take the Narmada waters to Saurashtra and help the people immensely.

The Chief Minister gave a strong reply to the lies propagated by the Congress that the Gujarat Government is delaying work on the Narmada. He shared that Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru did the Shilanyas for this project and for 26 years nothing happened. Then Mrs. Indira Gandhi did not act on the file for 9 years! Similarly he brought out the obstructionist attitude of the UPA be it in not allowing gates to be placed on the dam and the fact that he had to undertake a fast to ensure that the height of the dam in raised.

Replying to the comments made by top Congress leaders on Gujarat’s education, Shri Modi said that the Centre’s own records show that if there is one state that has made significant advances in primary education it is Gujarat.

The public meetings were very well attended by people across all age groups and communities of society.