PM Narendra Modi sees Congress eclipse except in Puducherry

PUDUCHERRY: After June this year, Puducherry will be the only Congress ruled state in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi predicted on Su­nday, urging people to throw out the Grand Old Party here as well.Addressing a public meeting here, Modi said the Congress wo­u­l­d be dethroned in the Northeaste­rn states that are due to go to polls, and a rout in Karnataka will follow. “V Narayanasamy will be the only Congress Chief Minister left for the party to exhibit as its specimen after June,” Modi prophesied, adding sarcastically, “Narayanasamy will be lauded and his stature will rise within the party.”

Modi perhaps missed factoring in Punjab, where the Congress wrested power from the Shiromani Akali Dal in the Assembly polls last year.Keeping up his attack on the Congress, the PM asked intellectuals to assess what the country gained and lo­st in the 48 years of the Nehru-Ga­n­dhi family rule vis-a-v­is the ach­ievements of the BJP go­ve­rnment at the Centre in the last 48 mo­nths.

Turning his attention to Puducherry, he said it has remained backward with little development despite having resources and capabilities. “Puducherry has been governed by the Congress most of the time and successive governme­nts have done injustice to it by fa­iling to understand the needs and aspirations of the people. The Congress owes an explanation.”

Speaking in favour of the three nominated BJP lawmakers who have not been allowed to function by the Assembly Speaker, Modi ch­a­rged the Congress with throttling democracy. “Sitting in Delhi, Congress leaders speak of democratic rights, while in Puducherry they are denying grassroots level demo­c­racy as well as democratic rights to nominated MLAs. As per law, no­minated MLAs have a right to function to fulfil their democratic duties, but in Puducherry they are not allowed to enter the Assembly and function,” he pointed out.