Chhattisgarh Assembly elections: PM Modi accuses Congress of supporting 'urban Maoists'

Modi said: "Urban Maoists live in AC surroundings, move around in big cars and their children study abroad, but they ruin the lives of our poor Adivasi youth here through remote control."

Image: ANI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi blew the poll-bugle for Chhattisgarh Assembly elections from Jagdalpur in Bastar district. In his poll address for the first phase of the state elections, Modi launched a scathing attack on Congress accusing it of backing urban Maoists who, he said, have ruined the lives of the poor tribal youths. In his first election rally for the upcoming assembly polls Modi said the Congress-led government did not work towards development of the Naxal-infested Bastar region citing the troubles caused by Maoists, but the same party backs the urban Maoists. He said: "Urban Maoists live in AC surroundings, move around in big cars and their children study abroad, but they ruin the lives of our poor Adivasi youth here through remote control. Why is Congress supporting these Urban Maoists?" The Prime Minister described Naxals as "monsters with evil mindset" and appealed people to teach a “befitting lesson to teach a fitting lesson to the Congress leaders, who on one hand try to shield the urban Maoists, and in Chhattisgarh, they speak about freeing the state from Maoists”. I appeal to you to ensure that BJP wins all seats in the Bastar region. If anyone else wins, it will be a blot on Bastar's dreams," he said. He accused Congress of never paying attention to the needs of Chhattisgarh despite being in power for 10 years. He further slammed the opposition party for ridiculing him for wearing an ‘adivasi headgear’. He said: “I don't know why Congress makes fun of adivasis. Once I had gone for a rally to the Northeast of our country and there had worn a traditional tribal headgear but Congress leaders made fun of that. It was an insult of adivasi culture.” He condemned the killing of DD cameraperson Achutyanand Sahu at the hands of naxals and said "brave and innocent cameraman from DD, Achutyanand Sahu was killed by Maoists. Recently our valiant jawans were also martyred in encounter with Maoists and for Congress party these Maoists are revolutionaries." Congress president Rahul Gandhi has also arrived in Chhattisgarh on a two-day-tour to kick off campaign for the first phase of the assembly elections scheduled for November 12. He addressed a public rally in Kanker district today. Watch: