Narendra Modi addressing the rally in Ranchi
Ranchi:
Narendra Modi held a rally today in Jharkhand's capital, Ranchi, where he wondered why, despite its enormous mineral resources, the state faces poverty.
"Atal (Bihari Vajpayee) ji understood the feelings, needs and ambitions of the people of Jharkhand. The dreams, vision that Atal ji had for Jharkhand need to be fulfilled," the party's prime ministerial candidate said. (Highlights of Narendra Modi's speech)
It was during Mr Vajpayee's tenure as prime minister that three states - Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand - were created in 2000.
The 63-year-old leader accused the Centre of ignoring Jharkhand's development. "Today those who are sitting in Delhi rejected you and a vision for you. How will you progress under them?" he said.
He cited Chhattisgarh as an example of a state that "gave the BJP an opportunity to serve" its people. "Chhattisgarh developed and progressed while Jharkhand lagged behind," the Gujarat Chief Minister said.
With a model of parliament acting as a backdrop on the stage, Mr Modi addressed over a lakh people on the grounds of Prabhat Tara School in Ranchi.
The rally was also addressed by BJP president Rajnath Singh who invoked the clean chit Mr Modi recently got from a Gujarat court over his role in 2002 riots. "Modi is called communal just because of one riot," he said.
"Let me tell our opponents: the more you scheme against Modi, the stronger he will become," Mr Singh said.
In November, investigations into the serial blasts at Mr Modi's Patna rally, which killed six people, had revealed that the plot was allegedly hatched in Jharkhand's capital and that most of the main accused, including those who planted the bombs, belonged to Ranchi.
Today, the BJP had invited the families of the Patna blast accused, who allegedly live in a village close to Ranchi, to attend the rally as special invitees in a gesture of reconciliation.
"Atal (Bihari Vajpayee) ji understood the feelings, needs and ambitions of the people of Jharkhand. The dreams, vision that Atal ji had for Jharkhand need to be fulfilled," the party's prime ministerial candidate said. (Highlights of Narendra Modi's speech)
It was during Mr Vajpayee's tenure as prime minister that three states - Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand - were created in 2000.
The 63-year-old leader accused the Centre of ignoring Jharkhand's development. "Today those who are sitting in Delhi rejected you and a vision for you. How will you progress under them?" he said.
He cited Chhattisgarh as an example of a state that "gave the BJP an opportunity to serve" its people. "Chhattisgarh developed and progressed while Jharkhand lagged behind," the Gujarat Chief Minister said.
With a model of parliament acting as a backdrop on the stage, Mr Modi addressed over a lakh people on the grounds of Prabhat Tara School in Ranchi.
The rally was also addressed by BJP president Rajnath Singh who invoked the clean chit Mr Modi recently got from a Gujarat court over his role in 2002 riots. "Modi is called communal just because of one riot," he said.
"Let me tell our opponents: the more you scheme against Modi, the stronger he will become," Mr Singh said.
In November, investigations into the serial blasts at Mr Modi's Patna rally, which killed six people, had revealed that the plot was allegedly hatched in Jharkhand's capital and that most of the main accused, including those who planted the bombs, belonged to Ranchi.
Today, the BJP had invited the families of the Patna blast accused, who allegedly live in a village close to Ranchi, to attend the rally as special invitees in a gesture of reconciliation.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
