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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described the Congress party as a “laughing club” for promising to act tough on corruption at a time when one of its chief ministers is facing graft charges.
“Congress party has become a laughing club. The CM has a corruption case against him. He is out on a bail. And then, they come out with a manifesto saying there will be zero tolerance on corruption,” PM Modi said.
He made the remarks while addressing a public rally in Kangra district’s Rehan. BJP’s chief ministerial face Prem Kumar Dhumal was also present at the rally.
Addressing a mammoth rally, his first in HP in Rehan town of Kangra district, Modi, donning a Himachali cap, held the Congress rule responsible for the flourishing five mafias including mining, forest, tender, transfer and drugs and promised to free the state of these demons. He said these mafias were robbing the state of its rich minerals, forests, playing with the future of youths, tenders were being allotted to influential few and people had to pay up for getting transfers.
LIVE UPDATES: PM Modi in Himachal Pradesh
Sharing the dais with seven party candidates, Modi sought votes for each one of them.
Modi said the Congress needs to introspect why a forgiving country like India is out to punish its leaders by turning away from them one by one.
He denounced the Congress party for its corrupt policies and said: “This is not a Congress of Mahatma Gandhi or of freedom fighters but of corruption, dynasty politics and casteism.”
Seeking to strike a chord with the people of Himachal, Modi said he knew the people of Himachal as he spent many years here as a state in-charge, and they would rout the “corrupt Congress” from the state.
“Dev bhoomi ko inn rakshson se mukt karna hai ke nahi? ( Do you want to free the Dev Bhoomi from the clutches of these demons?), he asked. The crowd answered in the affirmative.
Modi said the state is known for its defence personnel and their sacrifices for the country. “Every other day a martyr’s last remains wrapped in a Tricolour are received by villages in the state.”
Calling upon the women voters, he asked them to turn out to vote in big numbers and rout the drug mafia. “I give you a call that at least 5 per cent more women than men should turn out to cast their vote on November 9. That will be the day when you can bring about a change.”
He said though Himachalis and Hindustani soldiers had sacrificed their lives for the Country and fighting cross-border terrorism in Kashmir, a Congress leader had insulted these heroes by demanding ‘azadi’ for Kashmir.
Taking a dig at the Congress, he said it is a party that is neck-deep in ‘Bhrashtachaar’ (corruption), ‘Pariwaarwaad’ (family), ‘Sampardayaik rang mein rangi’ (casteist). “The Congress party of today has nothing in common with the one that Mahatma Gandhi was a part, many freedom lovers were a part. Today, Congress is only about one family and its interests.”
Launching an attack at AICC Vice President Rahul Gandhi, without naming him, said this leader who had inherited power in the country and has been in Lok Sabha for 15 years, was meeting an envoy of China when the country was tackling Doklam crisis.
Party’s chief ministerial candidate Prem Kumar Dhumal, and former CM Shanta Kumar were also present.
The Rehan stadium, where the rally was organised witnessed a massive gathering, as people were seen perching atop roofs of houses and shops in the neighbourhood. The road to the venue was thronged by a sea of humanity. Women and youths were seen making their way to the jam-packed stadium for a glimpse of Modi.
He will be addressing another rally in Daula Kuan Sirmaur in the state in the evening.
