Ahead of Gujarat polls, Modi plays 'son of the soil' card again

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday, urged the people of Gujarat to warn those defaming them and the state. He was inaugurating developmental works and laying of foundation stones for a few projects worth over Rs 4,155 crore in Junagadh. Among the projects is the coastal highway between Lakhpat in Kutch and Umargam in South Gujarat.

Without naming anyone, Modi said, “There are some political parties who cannot digest the progress of Gujarat and its people.”

“The youth of the region, who have grown up seeing the Asiatic Lions, have more capacity and hence I am asking them to warn such people,” he said, adding that these people have a perverted mind.

They cannot insult Gujarat, he said.

“Any achievement by any state or person needs to be appreciated and it is a proud moment even if an athlete from Haryana gets a medal in the Olympics,” the PM said.

He said the unity of Gujarat was its strength and it should be preserved.

Like in the previous elections, Modi played the “son of the soil” card, while addressing women, young and old. “Your blessings are my strength,” he said, pointing out that in the past, even installing a hand pump was a matter of celebration, and now “your son” is providing tap water to every home.

He accused the previous governments at the Centre of not taking interest in Girnar Ropeway. You sent your son to New Delhi and you got the ropeway, the PM said.

Elaborating on the works taken up after 2001 when he took over as the chief minister of Gujarat, Modi said it is also a blessing that the region hasn’t seen drought since then.

The PM said the coastal highway and the developmental works initiated for the fishermen will bring in employment opportunities. He claimed that fish exports had doubled in the last 20 years.

Modi said he sought details about if the Keshod airstrip can be further developed so that mangoes, vegetables and fruits can be directly exported abroad from the region.

In 2017, the Congress had performed well in the region. New entrant Aam Aadmi Party too is focusing on Saurashtra region.

Gujarat faces elections by the end of the year.