Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a sharp attack on the Congress, saying the party’s decision to replace its chief minister in Karnataka reflected growing public anger against his government and asserted that the Congress’ “policy of looking for opportunity in chaos” had been repeatedly rejected by voters across the country.
Addressing a public gathering in the city of Surat after launching development projects worth more than their value $“The collapsing Congress’s policy – of looking for opportunity in its self-created chaos – will not work. In Karnataka too, there is deep anger among the people against the Congress government. This is precisely why the Congress has to change its chief minister in Karnataka,” Modi said.
Karnataka Chief Minister MS Siddharamaiah was replaced by DK Shivakumar on June 3.
Citing the recent election results in West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana and Punjab, Modi said: “The people of this country are giving the Congress a resounding answer time and again. For the past 12 years, the Congress has been spreading chaos and uncertainty in pursuit of opportunities for itself. And every such election carries one clear message: that the country does not want chaos, uncertainty and despair.”
He said the results of the recently held West Bengal Assembly elections, in which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defeated the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and formed the government, were widely discussed even during his recent five-nation foreign tour.
He said that in Himachal Pradesh, where the Congress is in power, the party lost badly in the recently held local body elections. “The people of Himachal have rejected Congress’ misrule,” he said, adding that the Congress also faced defeat in the Haryana local body elections and received a clear message from voters in Punjab.
“India has moved beyond negativity. It is a nation of self-confident optimism, a nation of extraordinary aspirations,” he said.
“Today, a major section of the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway has been inaugurated. This will provide better connectivity between two of the major industrial and commercial hubs of the country. Friends, we seek connectivity – to give everyone respect, opportunity and comfort. The remote areas and tribal areas that have long been deprived of facilities – are today being reached by modern means of communication. The Dahod-Budili-Vapi corridor is a reflection of this very design. Just imagine – four-lane connectivity is now arriving from Narmada to Vapi,” Modi said. To significantly reduce travel time and lower shipping costs. People in tribal and rural areas will have better access to education, medicine and livelihoods.”
He said that the Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway will strengthen economic and logistical ties between Gujarat and Maharashtra. “This will provide better connectivity between two of the major industrial and commercial centers of the country,” he said, adding that the corridor will connect Chota Udaipur, Narmada, Bharuch and Tapi districts to the industrial belt and give a boost to tourism in south Gujarat, including smoother access to the Statue of Unity and Saputara hill station.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated a 220-bed hospital in Surat, saying it would serve migrant workers from other states besides locals. “This hospital will become a new center for providing better healthcare services to our working brothers and sisters and their families. Those who have come from other states in search of work will also benefit greatly from this hospital,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister also visited Larsen & Toubro’s Hazira facility, where he reviewed indigenous defense manufacturing, including artillery and armor systems.
