With attack on Congress, Modi adds zing to BJP fight for North East

GUWAHATI: PM Narendra Modi Friday gave the finishing touches to BJP’s poll campaign in Meghalaya and Nagaland with a stinging riposte to “rejected” parties like Congress aiming to “dig Modi’s grave”, ignoring what he said was the reality of “people in every nook and cranny chanting ‘Modi tera kamal khilega’ (Modi, your lotus will bloom)”.
“Those deemed unacceptable by the people find themselves immersed in hopelessness,” he said, alluding to Congress’ alleged “Modi teri kabar khudegi” slogan after the party’s national spokesperson Pawan Khera was deplaned at Delhi airport and briefly arrested for his remarks about the PM’s middle name.
In Nagaland, where BJP is repeating its alliance with senior coalition partner NDPP, Modi said “Congress used the northeast as an ATM”, while BJP considers the eight states of the region “Ashtalakshmi”.
Professing to be in awe of the cultural richness of Nagaland and the northeast as a whole, Modi said the region deserved peace and development just like any other part of the country.
At his rally in Tura, estranged NPP ally and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma’s home turf, the PM said BJP considers the northeast the growth engine of the country and has always been dedicated to tribal development.
Nagaland and Meghalaya go to polls on February 27.