Modi sees no place for dynasty in democracy

"The Congress is a party of mother and son, the SP is a father, son and daughter-in-law party, the RJD is a husband and wife party, the JMM is a father and son party," Mr Modi told an election meeting here in Palamu district.

April 02, 2014 03:10 pm | Updated December 04, 2021 11:37 pm IST - Chianki/Koderma

BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Wednesday criticised Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, JMM chief Shibu Soren and RJD president Lalu Prasad for practising “dynastic politics” and said it has no place in a democracy.

“The Congress is a party of mother and son, the SP is a father, son and daughter-in-law party, the RJD is a husband and wife party, the JMM is a father and son party,” Mr Modi told an election meeting here in Palamu district.

“Dynastic politics has no importance in a democracy,” he said.

Claiming that farmers in Uttar Pradesh were selling their livestock for money to marry off their daughters, Mr Modi said, “The Centre is in pink revolution, exporting meat on subsidy.”

Mr Modi accused regional parties of being “chowkidars of a corrupt government” in New Delhi and said, “The government at the Centre is a liability. Change it.”

Referring to the Palamu, a rain shadow area, he said even Gujarat had scanty rains, “but there is no problem for water.”

BJP has fielded former Jharkhand Police chief V D Ram from the Palamau (SC) constituency.

Taunts Rahul

Targeting Rahul Gandhi over his party’s alliance with fodder case convict and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, Mr Modi asked if the Congress vice president plans to guard the country’s resources by allying with leaders accused in scams.

Referring to Mr. Gandhi, he said the shehzade had said that the country needs its 1.25 crore people to act as watchmen guarding its resources but he was himself relying on tainted leaders.

“And what are the people with whom you have allied. Can those be trusted, the people with whom the Congress has allied, who have just come out of jail,” he told a poll meeting in Jhumartaliya in the district.

Mr. Modi said that Mr. Gandhi’s watchmen would be Ashok Chavan, whose name had figured in the Adarsh scam and Mr. Prasad, who had been arrested in a fodder scam case.

“Will these be the watchmen with which you will guard the country?” Mr. Modi asked.

Mr. Prasad, who has been convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment last year, is on bail and had allied with the Congress both in Bihar and Jharkhand.

Continuing his attack, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate said that he had not yet seen a cat, who could be trusted with guarding milk.

Recalling former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s famous quote on central funds that only 15 paise of a rupee reached the people, Mr. Modi took a swipe at Congress’s symbol. “It’s the wonder of the hand,” he said.

Mr. Modi said while a BJP victory in the elections is a foregone conclusion, people should ensure that the BJP gets 300 seats because a strong government would ensure that countries who act hostile now will change their approach.

When there is a strong government in the country, even big powerful countries like the USA accept it, he said.

He said that for the government at the centre, democracy was on a means to attain power, which was only a limited goal.

Mr. Modi said that Jharkhand is the richest state in terms of natural resources but its people were poor. “I will bring the people of the state out of poverty,” he said.

Seeking to connect with Jhumritilaya often named on radio programmes during 1960s, 70s and 80s by anchors, Mr. Modi said he had been a big fan of Binaca Gitmala and often listened to people belonging to Jhumritilaya requesting their favourite songs to be played on the programme.

“You have contributed much money to the Post Office by writing postcards,” Mr. Modi said to claps from the crowd.

Appealing for votes for his party, Mr. Modi promised to revive the mica industry in Koderma.

“If you vote for the BJP, we will make efforts in reviving the mica industry. Police and the forest department are throwing labourers in jail on the pretext of illegal mica mining, little realising that it is their bread and butter,” he said.

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