PM HITS OUT AT PATIDARS

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit back at social media critics who mocked development under the catchphrase ‘Vikas Gando Thayo Che (development has gone crazy)’, asking whether setting up an airport near Rajkot was not “development”.

RAJKOT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit back at social media critics who mocked development under the catchphrase ‘Vikas Gando Thayo Che (development has gone crazy)’, asking whether setting up an airport near Rajkot was not “development”.

“Has anyone thought of an airport in Surendranagar? Isn’t that called vikas ?” Modi asked a gathering at the ground-breaking ceremony of Rajkot International Airport, as the audience replied “Yes”, and began chanting “Modi, Modi” in affirmation. ‘Vikas has gone crazy’, a social media campaign started by Patidars and picked up by Congress, tries to make fun of the purported failure of development promised by BJP before the 2014 polls . With the assembly elections coming up in his home state, Modi sought to negate the campaign, and inaugurate a slew of projects worth ₹10,000 crore during his two-day visit before the model code takes effective with the announcement of polls, which is likely next week.

PM reached Rajkot after offering prayers at Dwarikasdeesh temple in Dwarka and addressing a rally at the pilgrimage place.

Among the projects he launched for the region are a cable-stayed bridge between Dwarka and Bet and water supply project for Surendranagar.

The region, stronghold of BJP’s traditional vote-bank of Patidars, has 52 of total 182 seats.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had visited the same temple in September and raised issues related to unemployment, and failed economic policies of the Modi government. Modi countered the criticism, saying for development and economic growth, one needs vision and will. “Earlier, one hand pump would be put and used by leader for multiple elections. But, we have changed definition of development now,” he said.