Team News Riveting
Mehsana, November 23
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lashed out at Congress for not supporting a tribal woman, Droupadi Murmu, in the presidential poll.
Castigating the opposition party, the Prime Minister accused it of engaging in vote bank politics, nepotism, sectarianism and supporting “anti-social elements” during its rule in Gujarat. The Prime Minister hit the campaign trail in Gujarat just after a day-long break and addressed rallies in Dahod, Mehsana, Vadodara and Bhavnagar in support of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidates ahead of the next month’s Assembly polls.
Earlier, Modi was in the state for three days – November 19, 20 and 21 – and addressed a series of poll meetings for his party.
Speaking at an election rally in the tribal-dominated Dahod town of central Gujarat for BJP candidates in the region, Modi asked why the Congress did not support Murmu in the presidential election if the opposition party was so concerned about adivasis.
The Prime Minister was responding to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, without taking his name, and his Bharat Jodo Yatra, which is currently passing through adjoining Madhya Pradesh.
Speaking at a rally in tribal-dominated Mahuva village in Surat district on Monday, Gandhi had accused the ruling BJP of snatching away the rights of tribals.
“A person is conducting a foot-march to get back power. In his speech, he talks about tribals. I want to ask him, why Congress did not support the BJP’s woman tribal candidate in the presidential election? Instead, they fielded their own candidate to defeat her,” Modi said.
“Despite Congress’ efforts” Murmu became President “with the blessings of tribal people,” he added.
“Why the Congress never thought of making an adivasi our President? It was the BJP which made a tribal person, that too a woman, our country’s President for the first time and sent a message to the world,” Modi said.
Murmu, the first tribal to occupy the country’s highest constitutional post, had defeated former Union minister Yashwant Sinha, supported by Opposition parties, including the Congress, in the election held in July.
