Author:
Publication: Rediff.com
Date: November 29, 2007
URL: http://specials.rediff.com/news/2007/nov/29slid1.htm
On November 27, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra
Modi kickstarted his election campaign from the city of Botad, in Bhavnagar
district. The election speech gives a fair idea of the issues of Election
2007. It also gives an insight into the mind of Modi who is loved and hated
with passion by his friends and enemies.
In his maiden election speech he raised the
issue of development, security, regionalism, anti-Congress politics and his
own clean image.
Managing Editor Sheela Bhatt presents his
speech, rendered in Gujarati, verbatim to understand Modi's gameplan for the
coming election and maybe beyond.
Why is Narendrabhai inaugurating his programme
from Botad? Our friends in the media must also be investigating the reason
for this. Friends, this is the karmabhumi of the great revolutionary poet
Jhaverchand Meghani. This is also the birthplace of Botadkar, the poet who
immortalised the city of Botad in Gujarati literature. If we look at the development
and evolution of the BJP in Gujarat, at the root of the BJP's success is the
land of Botad. When Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay was alive, we celebrated even
if our candidates could save their deposit in local elections. In those times,
it was in the municipality of Botad that the farsighted citizens voted the
Jan Sangh into power and Pandit Deendayal himself came to Botad and felicitated
the citizens of Botad. This event took place some 40 years ago. So it was
the citizens who laid the foundation of the BJP, who recognised our worth
all those years ago, and I have come to pay tribute to that land of Botad.
I want to congratulate the entire district
of Bhavnagar. Look at our talented Saurabh Patel (the BJP candidate from Botad).
He has made a place in the hearts of the people by identifying with their
pleasures and pain. The opposition could not find a single candidate from
the district to pit against Saurabhbhai.
Today, in the whole country, 'Gujarat' and
'development' are synonymous. And the reason for this? Weren't there governments
before? Weren't there secretariats before? Didn't government officers have
cars before? Everything was there before. And yet, why was the situation not
improving?
The reason is that the Congress had created
a political culture under which candidates enjoyed power after being voted
into office. Again after five years they will fool the people and conspire
to get votes again. Since four years it has been Soniaben's (Sonia Gandhi)
rule in Delhi. Isn't it her duty to tell people what all her government has
done for Gujarat? Yet she says not a word. And these media-people are not
even asking her! But they keep nagging me. She does not even meet them. At
least we meet them.
==========================
'When I do not take bribes and do not allow
bribes, that too makes
people uncomfortable'
I want to pose a question to the sultanate
of Delhi. There is an employment guarantee scheme which is being implemented
in hundreds of districts in this country. But give us the logic of not including
a single district of Saurashtra in this scheme which has been in operation
for two years. What is the crime committed by Saurashtra for which it is being
left out? We need more power to supply to the farmers of Saurashtra.
Soniaben, your husband Rajiv Gandhi had promised
in the Lok Sabha that he would allot gas for the power project in Pipavav.
Years have gone by after his passing away; at least keep his promise if not
the promises made by others. The Centre is not ready to give us gas so I have
decided that my farmers of Saurashtra will not starve without gas. And I will
get the gas for them from outside even if it is costlier. I will start a power
project in Pipavav and solve the power problems of Saurashtra. Was this not
the responsibility of Soniaben? But they just don't want to do this.
The government at Delhi is frequently doing
injustice to Gujarat. Overnight, they are taking away 200 MW of Gujarat's
quota of power. What do you call people who pick up things overnight? (People
roar: 'thief'). But I can't use such epithets. Model Code of conduct! I can't
use such words but I know that you understand. And if you want to punish them,
on December 11 press the button of the lotus. And overnight they are stealing
the power for what? They claim that in Mumbai, when we have guests from abroad
and there is no power, it looks bad. But they don't care for the green farms
of Kathiawad which can help make India shine. But Delhi doesn't care.
Ladies and gentlemen, do you remember the
Gujarati phrase 'lame power'? In the past not only governments but the supply
of power was also 'lame'. Power supply was so erratic that the engines of
the submersible pumps would get damaged frequently. And people were forced
to spend around Rs 5,000-Rs 10,000 to repair them. You have suffered all this,
right? But in our rule, the pump repair shops have been out of business! And
farmers have been able to save money with which they have been able educate
their children.
And Saurabhbhai has worked hard to achieve
this. He has worked night and day for this. Before we came to power, the Gujarat
Electricity Board had a deficit of Rs 2500 crores a year. Today, without increasing
the price of power, without levying new taxes, not only have we wiped out
this deficit, we have also started saving Rs 200-Rs 300 crores. Friends, tell
me, where were the Rs 2500 crores going? Get the answer from our friends in
the Congress! Gujarat has been able to come out of this huge deficit of Rs
2500 crores because I have sealed all the leaks. And when you plug the leaks,
obviously a few will be uncomfortable! So friends, when I do not take bribes
and do not allow bribes to be taken, that too makes people uncomfortable.
This is the people's money and all these years
you were looting it and this is why the citizens of Gujarat have thrown you
out. People won't forgive you and you still don't want to reform! The Congress
does not want to correct its ways. The Congress is forgetting that they more
they try to malign me the more the lotus will bloom!
==========================
'Will Miyan Musharraf say India has a right
over Pakistan's assets?'
In this country, in 30 per cent of all districts,
innocent people have lost their lives to terrorism, Naxalism and insurgencies.
Have you ever read in the newspapers that somewhere 15 people died in bomb
blasts and the PM could not sleep at night? Recently, in Lucknow, in Uttar
Pradesh, bombs were blasted right inside the courtrooms, and lots of people
died but did the prime minister say that he could not sleep at night? Some
time back there were serial blasts in the trains of Mumbai. Did the PM say
that he had sleepless nights? Of course not!
In the terrorist activity of London a boy
from Bangalore was implicated. When he saw the boy's mother crying on television
Manmohan Singhji says he could not sleep on that day. Hello brother, in this
country hundreds of people have been killed, so many mothers have become widows,
so many mothers have lost their children, so many sisters have lost their
brothers, so many sisters are waiting to tie rakhee to their brothers but,
instead, their dead bodies are arriving back home but this country's prime
minister is not losing sleep over it. Who is responsible for this? And the
PM says Muslims have the first right on the assets of this country. Then what
will happen to you, brother? Nothing for you? Tell me what will Miyan Musharraf
say? Will he ever say that India has the right over Pakistan's assets? Will
he ever say that? Manmohan Singhji, explain to me how can you say such things
that mislead the country? Do you want to play vote-bank politics even in this?
And friends, look at their pseudo-secularism.
Bangladeshis are living in the lanes and bylanes of this country but no one
is ready to evacuate them. Taslima, who is a writer exercising freedom of
expression, is being harassed by fundamentalists. The allies of Sonia Gandhi
overnight shifted her out of West Bengal and even took her out of Rajasthan.
Now they are plotting to send her out of the country. You can't get a worse
example than this of pseudo-secularism. The Centre should have some courage.
She is a woman who is fighting for the truth. By giving her protection, the
government should have set an example of the glorious tradition of India.
The Congress won't do that because then fundamentalists will be displeased
and it will affect the vote-bank politics of the Congress. If the Centre lacks
the courage to give security to her, then I have the courage. Send Taslima
to Gujarat; the youth of Gujarat are keen to provide security to her!
Look closely at this 2-rupee coin. Till two
years ago, when Soniaben's government was formed, the map of India was inscribed
on the 2-rupee coin. Then she issued a new 2-rupee coin where the map was
removed and a Christian cross inscribed on it. What are you up to Soniaben?
You have erased the map of India? We are not telling you put an Om on India's
coins; we are not telling you to put an image of Lord Ram! My fight is against
this, I object to this.
==========================
'This government of Soniaben says that Bhagwan
Ram was never born'
Friends, there was a time when the identity
of the land of Gujarat, of the districts of Gujarat, was associated with anti-social
elements. A Latif, a Sarman Munjha or Muhammad Surti -- these kinds of names
which frightened people. I have wiped out such mafia gangs from the landscape
of Gujarat. Many of the dignitaries on the dais are from Mumbai and you are
familiar with the taporis of Mumbai who come to extort money from you whenever
there is an occasion in the home or you have bought a new car. In Gujarat
we have not allowed such taporis to flourish. I have dealt with them sternly
and this may upset many people. Do you think I should be afraid of this? Can
I deal with them without your support? The Congress is spreading lies day
and night. Do you think I should care to reply to them?
Now, they are going to courts and spreading
lies by saying that Bhagwan Ram was never born. Can there be any bigger lie
than this? If they can lie about Bhagwan Ram what is Modi's class? I want
to ask you; was Bhagwan Ram born or not? (Audience agrees with him vociferously
after each question). Please, say it loudly so Delhi can listen, too. Was
Bhagwan Ram married to Sita Mata? Did Bhagwan Ram go to vanvas with Sita Mata
for 14 years? When Sita Mata was in banishment Ravan kidnapped her, right?
Did Ravan take her to Lanka? In search of Sita did Hanumanji go to Lanka?
To bring back Sita Mata did Lord Ram go to
Lanka? Did he build the bridge to reach Lanka? After crossing the bridge did
he kill Ravan to get back Sita Mata? After killing Ravan did he came back
to India along with Mother Sita? (People nod their head in agreement). You
know everything but Delhiwalas don?t know this story! But, this government
of Soniaben goes to court and says that Bhagwan Ram was never born. In this
election do not expect the truth from the people who can lie to this extent.
One of the leaders of Congress (Rahul Gandhi)
said in a meeting that now times have changed, our country is getting modern,
we are living in the 21st century so the rule to wear khadi should be changed
for aspirants who want to join the Congress. They want to change the mandatory
rule to wear khadi to become a Congressman. There was a Gandhi who propagated
the ideals of swadeshi with the help of khadi and launched a mission to give
employment to poor people. Now, the new Gandhi has arrived who wants to eradicate
Gandhiji from the country. Can you imagine a more anti-poor Congress than
this one?
This shows the anti-poor mindset of their
leader. It is the time to dump Congress not only from Gujarat but from India
and start the mission to reject the Congress from Gujarat.
==========================
'No might of the world can stop Gujarat from
being victorious'
I am standing before you with my life which
has been an open chapter. I am working for the good of Gujarat. In my heart
and mind only Gujarat lives. As it is I don't have to think of anything else.
I don't have anybody behind me or ahead of me. Do I have to worry about admissions
of my children? Do I have to worry about my sons or sons-in-law? I am quite
happy. I don't have any other work but to serve Gujarat and 5.5 crore Gujaratis
are members of my family. Their pain is my pain and 5.5 crore Gujaratis' pleasure
is my pleasure. With this feeling I have embarked upon a mission. I want to
bring fundamental changes in Gujarat and make it world class. Gujarat needs
security and stable government.
My friends in the Congress are not ready to
fight this election on the issue of development. Will you do me a favour with
love? If Congress guys complain to you that this is not done, that is unfinished,
then ask them a question. Ask them for how many years the Congress ruled Gujarat.
They ruled for 45 years. Ask them how many years did Modi rule? Only six.
Then ask them who stopped you from building hospitals? Did Modi break your
hospitals? My dear friends did not do anything for 45 years and now come to
us asking for accountability of the last six years. Wasn't Mother Narmada
flowing before me also? Who stopped them from bringing waters of Narmada to
Botad? Who stopped them from getting electricity for 24 hours? We got it because
we know it's the need of the poor people.
Gujarat is known for its development in India.
My life is transparent and this government is scam-free. We haven't faced
even one allegation. As it is, why do I need to collect? I roam around with
one or two rupees. These Congressmen are roaming around with a slogan. They
are saying 'Chakde Gujarat'. I told my people, ask the Congressmen what do
you mean by Chakde Gujarat? It came from which language? They were clueless.
Is it Italian? Do you know the meaning of it? You will be surprised to know
if you ask 100 Congressmen the meaning of it. Nobody is aware of it. They
have arrived with the election slogan without knowing its meaning. They want
to fool you. I will tell you the meaning. I'll teach them. In our area when
a truck gets stuck on the roads and when people push it from the pits they
say, 'haisho, haisho'. Chakde is a slogan to use force to put the vehicle
back on tracks.
The Congress's vehicle is stuck and will not
get back on tracks.
Our slogan is 'Jitega Gujarat'. It's the determination
of 5.5 crore Gujaratis to make Gujarat victorious. No might of the world can
stop Gujarat from being victorious. On December 11, you push the button on
the symbol of lotus and let the BJP win to keep continuing the development
mission of Gujarat.
Bharat Mata Ki Jai!
