Tampa (Florida): Accusing a “vested interest group” of shielding Congress from its “mis-governance”, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday said the UPA was “running away” from giving its performance report and asked the people to “uproot” the government.
“There is a vested interest group that is a Raksha Kavach (protective shield) for the Congress. This vested interest group is active and come 2014 we have to fight both the Congress and this vested interest group,” 63-year-old Modi said, without elaborating.
Speaking to the Indian diaspora in the US through live video conference, the Gujarat Chief Minister said, “See the arrogance of the Government in Delhi. They are in power for nine years but they are not ready to give performance report.”
Slamming the Congress for its alleged mis-governance, he asked the ruling to submit a performance report before the people of India on its nine years of rule.
“As soon as I finish (my speech) they will start, what Modi said, but friends, Modi gave answers to the people in December 2012 and the people chose him for a third time with distinction to serve them. “I want to tell the Congress friends, do you at least agree that when Vajpayee Government was there growth rate was 8.4 per cent but now it is 4.8 per cent under this (UPA) Government,” he asserted.
Congress Party, Modi alleged, is “running away” from giving its performance report and said the government needed to be “uprooted”.
Drawing a parallel between the 2014 polls and the 1977 elections, he said, “this government, which has downgraded the country, has to go. Let us affirm that this Government has to go democratically. We should work for a progressive BJP Government…Like 1977, 2014 will be the voice of the people.”
“This election is not about any post, but to wipe the tears of the poor. It is not the farmers, the tribal, the marginalised,” Modi said in his first address to the diaspora after being nominated as the prime ministerial candidate.
He urged the Indian American community, in particular his supporters, to play a meaningful role in the BJP’s victory.
Modi was addressing the Indian-American community at the conclusion of the two-day national convention of the Overseas Friends of BJP-USA.
In his speech, Modi expressed condolences to the people, in particular the Indians who died in the terrorist attack in Kenya and said that the time has come to take steps to wipe out terrorism from the world.
Without taking any names, he said there are some countries in the world which have double standards when it comes to terrorism.
Highlighting the achievements of the six years rule of the NDA government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Modi said it gave a new direction and inspiration not only India but also the world.
Only the BJP can save the country from the current crisis, he said.
“Today there is hope and aspiration for BJP. This is because, whenever any BJP member is given any responsibility, they give their best,” Modi said.
He praised the leadership of L K Advani, Shiv Raj Chauhan (the Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister), and several other chief ministers and leadership of the party.
He urged the Indian passport holders overseas to register themselves as voters and exercise their right to vote in the next general elections.
“If you are an Indian passport holder, you should be an Indian voter. Do not leave your exercise to vote,” he added. (PTI)