In a stinging attack on the Congress in poll-bound Meghalaya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the grand old party used to only loot Northeast states and treated them as ATMs. Addressing a rally in Tura, PM Modi said for the BJP, the country and its citizens come first.
"Congress used to remember Meghalaya only during elections. Congress and similar parties used to loot Northeast states, treated them as ATMs...People of Meghalaya have decided to have a BJP govt both in the state and at the Centre," ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.
The Meghalaya Assembly election will be held on February 27 and the counting of votes will take place on March 2. This time BJP is contesting in all 60 seats.
READ | 'Some Are Saying Modi Teri Kabar Khudegi But People Are Saying...: PM Modi In Shillong
PM Modi said the gesture of love and acceptance shown towards him by the people of Shillong and Tura was proof that Meghalaya wants a BJP government.
"'Sabka saath, sabka vikas' is secularism for us. A BJP government for Meghalaya means fast pace development, the end of blockade and violence, pucca houses for all and employment opportunities for youth," he said.
"Meghalaya will soon host a G20 meeting. People from many developed nations will visit Meghalaya which will embolden the state's image," PM Modi further said.
Urging people to vote for BJP in the upcoming election, PM Modi listed the work done by his Central government in Meghalaya.
"Tribal villages in interior areas of Meghalaya got electricity for the first time since independence in the last 9 years…We have also allocated a surplus budget for road construction in villages and spent more than Rs 5,000 crore on constructing National Highways…We have also strengthened air connectivity for Meghalaya and are installing hundreds of 4G towers in tribal villages of Meghalaya," he said.
Earlier in the day, the PM held a roadshow in Shillong. People in large numbers were seen queuing up on both sides of the road through which the Prime Minister's cavalcade passed.
Addressing a rally in Shillong, PM Modi, taking a dig at Congress, said some people in the country "who are immersed in sadness" are now saying "Modi teri kabar khudegi" but the people of the country are saying "Modi tera kamal khilega".
"Those who have been rejected by the country, who the country is no more ready to accept, are now chanting 'Modi teri kabar khudegi'. But the country is saying 'Modi tera kamal khilega'," PM Modi said.
Spme Congress members purportedly raised the slogan after party spokesperson Pawan Khera was prevented from boarding a flight to Chhattisgarh at Delhi airport on Thursday and arrested. He was subsequently granted bail following Supreme Court directives.