BJP’s unending focus on development and the Congress’ inherent attribute of making false promises was the core of Shri Narendra Modi’s address at the ‘Vijay Sankalp Samabesh’ rally at Sambalpur in Odisha, on the afternoon of 14th March, 2014.
Attacking the Congress’ inherent attribute and expertise in building lies and making false promises, Shri Modi said that this nature of the Congress party becomes more evident during the time of elections. The crowd replied in negation to his question of whether they were ready to forgive someone who had betrayed them. “It is not that the people want a BJP government or Modi as PM. Nation wants to teach a lesson to those who have ruined the nation,” said Shri Modi.
Shri Modi recalled his visit to Sambalpur during the 2009 elections, and spoke of how the Congress had made the promise of reducing inflation in 100 days then, but had miserably failed to do so. Condemning the introduction of the National Food Security Bill now, after being in power for 60 years, Shri Modi said, “The way they are, the Congress can never do good for the poor. And they take 60 years to understand things, as now, they have remembered that we have to make a law to feed people. Did they forget this for so many years? The longer we tolerate them, the more injustice will be done to the people.”
Elaborating further on the Congress’ lack of concern for the Nation and its citizens, Shri Modi spoke of how the welfare of tribal communities was given due consideration only under the Prime Ministership of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who had introduced a new ministry and a new budget for tribal communities. “Congress cannot worry about the poor and the tribal communities of India. A new ministry, a new budget for tribal communities was made only when Atal ji was in power. If there is any government that has done best work to give land rights to tribal communities it is BJP governments,” affirmed Shri Modi. He also spoke of how the Central Government was least bothered in giving adequate support to the dwindling handicrafts and art of Sambalpur, and also lacked the vision to equip the farming community of the State with the required technological updation.
The discriminatory approach of the Congress was put forth by Shri Modi when he spoke of how the farmers of Madhya Pradesh had to suffer huge losses in the recent hailstorm that hit the State, but were left out of any support from the Central government. “There was hail storm all over MP but Shivraj Singh Chouhan had to sit on a fast to wake up the Centre. Farmers of MP are our brothers, how can we let them suffer. They don't see the farmers of MP as their own because they elected a BJP government. We all are one. Justice must be done to each and every person. One cannot see everything through a political prism,” said Shri Modi.
He further stated that instead of bothering for the welfare of its citizens, the Congress had only one concern – that of finding a solution to Shri Modi. “We are looking for solutions to the nation's problems all the time but they are finding solutions to Modi. We say stop price rise, corruption, but they say stop Modi. They don’t have an agenda apart from that,” said Shri Modi.
Shri Modi also expressed shock at the statements made by India’s Foreign Minister during his recent visit to London. He spoke of how the External Affairs Minister had abused the Election Commission in London, and had thereby degraded the institute’s prestigious repute. “We are proud of our democracy. Our election process is quick and this is done by EC. We should be proud of our EC but the External Affairs Minister is abusing the EC in London. One reason they are abusing EC is that they fear defeat,” said Shri Modi, while adding that the Minister had also abused the Supreme Court, while on a foreign land. “Their name ‘INC’ must be changed to ‘Institutions Neglecting Congress’. Their habit is to misuse, abuse and reduce institutions,” stated Shri Modi.
Even as he highlighted the phenomenal work done by the BJP governments in the neighbouring states of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh, Shri Modi affirmed to the people of Odisha that he did not wish to comment on the State’s Chief Minister who had no time for the people of his state.
Calling for the need to have a functional Government in Delhi, rather than having a Government merely for the sake of it, Shri Modi urged the people to vote for the BJP in the 2014 elections. “Bless me so that I can serve you and wipe your tears,” said Shri Modi. He also spoke of the one aspect common to the 1857 revolt and the 2014 elections – that of the Lotus and the roti. Affirming the Lotus’ key role during both times, Shri Modi said that while 1857 was about ‘Swaraj ki ladai’, the 2014 elections would be about ‘Surajya ki ladai’. Shri Modi also remembered the momentous contribution of Veer Surendra Sai from Sambalpur, who had challenged the British even before the revolt of 1857.
Shri Modi acknowledged the support of the crowd who had turned out in huge numbers despite the heat, and stated that this wave of support will turn into a tsunami during the elections. He also expressed his condolences to the families of those who had lost their lives in the boat accident in early February.
