Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Cong supports urban Maoists: Modi

- Press Trust of India letters@hindustant­imes.com

CHHATTISGA­RH Says Cong did not do enough to develop Bastar JAGDALPUR:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday accused the Congress of backing urban Maoists who he said have ruined the lives of poor Adivasi youth.

Addressing his first election rally for the state Assembly polls scheduled later this month, Modi also said Congress makes “fun” of adivasis (tribals).

“I don’t know why Congress makes fun of adivasis. Once I had gone for a rally in North-East India and wore a traditiona­l adivasi headgear but Congress leaders made fun of it. This was an insult of adivasi culture,” he said.

Modi said he will not rest till he fulfils late Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dreams for a prosperous Chhattisga­rh, adding the Congress-led government did not do enough to develop the Naxal-infested Bastar region citing the Maoist menace as an excuse.

“The urban Maoists who live in air conditione­d homes in the cities, look clean and whose children study abroad, remote control the adivasi children in the Naxal dominated areas,” Modi said.

“I want to ask the Congress why it supports the urban Maoists when the government takes action against them and come to Bastar and speak against Naxalism,” he said. Describing Naxals as “monsters with evil mindset”, the Prime Minister said earlier government­s did not do enough for developmen­t of Bastar region.

“Will you forgive such people? These people will not win Chhattisga­rh. 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 added.

Modi said no other Prime Minister visited Bastar as often as he did. “I have not come empty handed but given you some scheme and developmen­t programme. We are working hard to eradicate unemployme­nt, poverty and hunger from the region.

Previously there were resources but nothing happened,” he said. Modi said he wanted to serve the people of Chhattisga­rh and fulfil Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dreams of a prosperous state.

“I will not rest till I fulfil his dreams. Chhattisga­rh is now 18 years old. There are different dreams and aspiration­s of 18 year olds now,” he said.

Congress speaks of Dalits, deprived sections and tribals but the party considers them as vote banks and not as human beings, he said. “Do you want a government which works or one which stops developmen­t works,” he said.

Modi said his government has never discrimina­ted among people. “Previous government­s did that. Our government works for developmen­t of all,” he said.

Elections to the 90-member Chhattisga­rh Assembly will be held in two phases on November 12 and November 20

 ?? PTI ?? Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally at Jagdalpur, in Bastar, on Friday.
PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an election rally at Jagdalpur, in Bastar, on Friday.

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