PM Narendra Modi speaking at election rally in Gujarat on Sunday.
In the run up to Gujarat assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address four back-to-back public meetings today. He attended an election rally in Dharampur in Valsad this afternoon and then reached Bhavnagar. After that, he proceeded to address a public meeting in Junagadh. He will address his next rally in Jamnagar in Saurashtra. The public meetings, being addressed during the two-day Gujarat tour of PM Modi that started Sunday, have been pitched as "Vikas rallies" by the ruling BJP.
PM Modi, while addressing the rallies on Sunday, attacked the grand old party Congress and rebuffed the allegations over bullet train project and giving land to an
industrialist in the poll-bound state. In a reference to a letter issued by a Gandhinagar archbishop, he also said
nationalism helped the ruling government to help the people of all faiths.
Here are the live updates of PM Modi's rallies in Gujarat.
PM Modi will address his next rally in Jamnagar in Saurashtra.
For Congress, 'work' was giving a handpump. They never envisioned something like a SAUNI Yojana: PM Modi
Renewing his attacks on Congress over development work in the state, PM Modi said, "While we worked hard to make Junagadh the tourism capital, the Congress did not devote attention to this region. They stalled the ropeway project for years."
In Junagadh, I want to ask you- if it was not for Sardar Patel where would we be. We recall with pride how Sardar Patel integrated the nation: PM Modi
As Hardik Patel, who led the Patidar agitation in Gujarat, asks people to not to vote for BJP, PM Modi today said, "I have been campaigning in Kutch, Saurashtra and South Gujarat. The support for BJP is massive."
"People are not only keen to see the BJP win but also ensure that those who are defaming Gujarat are defeated," he added while speaking to the crowd at an election rally in Junagadh.
PM Narendra Modi has now reached the venue to address his third political rally of the day in Junagadh.
"I am seeing videos of Congress supporters saying, vote for Congress on 9th and 14th and then we will do 'Dadagiri' (hooliganism) 'for 5 years. This is not the Gujarat that the people desire," PM Modi said while addressing public meeting in Bhavnagar.
"I appeal to the Congress to stick to the truth. The people of Gujarat do not like poll time lollipops and false promises of the Congress."
Mocking Congress leader Kapil Sibal, PM Modi said at the Bhavnagar rally, "Congress has a very 'able' lawyer in Kapil Sibal. He is always handling all the indefensible and wrong matters. In 2007 he came to Viramgam and said after the results are out Modi will be in Jail. He was very powerful in that government."
Referring to the Congress debacle in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said, "The people of UP know the Congress and their leadership well. And see how they have rejected Congress repeatedly."
Gujarat has grown due to the power of Shanti (Peace), Ekta (Unity) and Sadbhavana: PM Modi in Bhavanagar
I fail to understand why is the Congress once again doing what it always did in the past- divide people, be it on caste lines, communal lines, between villages and cities. Congress has learnt 'divide and rule' from our colonial rulers rather well: PM Modi in Bhavnagar
PM Narendra Modi is now addressing a rally in Bhavnagar.
BJP has been ruling the state for over two decades. However, after Narendra Modi, the former chief minister of Gujarat, took over as the Prime Minister following landslide victory in Lok Sabha 2014 elections, the state witnessed leadership change twice. Anandiben Patel, who succeeded Narendra Modi, resigned last year amid growing unrest among the members of Dalit and Patidar communities. She was succeeded by Vijay Rupani.
During his public meetings, PM Modi has been attacking Congress for failing to ensure a democratic culture within the party. His latest "Aurangzeb Raj" jibe refers to Rahul Gandhi's candidature for Congress presidential poll. Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination for the Congress top post to succeed his mother Sonia Gandhi today.
While PM Modi addresses back-to-back election rallies in the poll-bound state, BJP National President Amit Shah also addressed a rally in Vyara, Tapi.
Talking about how ruling BJP has helped in boosting infrastructure, PM Modi said, "Not only did the Congress ignore the healthcare infrastructure in tribal areas, there was no arrangements for ambulances. We changed both these things - today there are better healthcare services and the 108 ambulance service is active."
PM Narendra Modi yet again labelled Congress as anti-poor and casteist today as he said, "Why did the Congress not give Constitutional Status to the OBC Commission? We got a bill but when we did so, they stalled it in the Rajya Sabha. This anti-OBC Congress should be severely punished by the people."
PM Narendra Modi accused the Congress of spreading misinformation about the BJP. "Disinformation like BJP does this and that against Muslims has been spread. This family party made it their main agenda to spread disinformation about BJP. But Gujarat people are not so naive, they have now become sensitive and aware to disinformation," PM Modi was quoted as saying by ANI.
"Each and every person who has looted the poor, I want to tell them- I am not scared of you, will return everything that belongs to the poor," PM Modi says while addressing election rally in Dharampur.
Why has the Congress stopped saying BJP is anti-Muslim? Earlier, they would go out of the way to show their secularism but now we are all seeing what they are doing in this election, where they are going. Unfortunately for them, Muslims know their real nature: PM Modi in Dharmapur
"I congratulate the Congress on their 'Aurangzeb Raj.' For us, the wellbeing of the people matters and 125 crore Indians are our high command," PM Modi said today in Dharampur while referring to a statement by Mani Shankar Aiyar. Mr Aiyar, referring to the Mughal dynasty and Congress presidential poll, said that no elections were held in the Mughal dynasty and it was logical for Shah Jahan to succeed Jahangir and PM Modi in his address took a jibe at Mr Aiyar for saying that.
Accusing the grand old party of defaming Gujarat, PM Modi while addressing the rally in Dharampur, said, "Congress cannot tolerate or accept leaders from Gujarat. They have always defamed Gujarat."
I have spent many years of my life in Gujarat's tribal stretch, worked among tribal communities: PM Modi in Dharampur.
PM Modi address rally in Dharampur.
PM Modi will address 11 more rallies starting Wednesday (December 6). On Wednesday, he will address four rallies in Dhanduka, Dahod, Netrang in South Gujarat and Surat. PM Modi is also scheduled to address election rallies on December 9 when the first phase of assembly polls begins in the state. He will be addressing the public meetings in Lunawada, Chota Udaipur Badoli, Anand and Mehsana on December 9.
PM Modi's addresses back-to-back rallies in Gujarat today as Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi files his nomination for the party presidential poll. Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are among the top proposers for Rahul Gandhi's candidature.
The polling for the 182-seats-Gujarat assembly will be held on December 9 and December 14. The counting of votes will take place on December 18.
Referring to his two-day Gujarat visit, PM Modi tweeted this morning.