Modi uses Telangana plank to woo voters

Seeking to woo voters in the name of Telangana cause, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked the people of the region to “pick and punish” all those who have “betrayed” them over creation of a separate state.

Kick-starting the BJP election campaign in the region at a public meeting in Karimnagar, Modi said: “Show your strength. Jin jin logon ne Telangana ke saath gaddari ki hai, unhe chun chunke sajaa dena (Those who have betrayed the cause of Telangana, pick and punish them.”

Without naming Congress, Modi dubbed the Sonia Gandhi-led party as the villain and accused it of deceiving the people of Telangana on the promise of carving out a separate state.

“I am coming from the land of Sardar Vallabhai Patel and the modern Vallabhai Patel -- LK Advani -- has promised to create Telangana in 100 days if the NDA comes to power. I have no doubt that the NDA will be voted back at the Centre and Telangana will become a reality in 100 days,” Modi said.

He began his address by greeting the people in Telugu: “Naa priyamaina Telangana prajalaku namaskaramulu. Mee andariki naa haardhika subhakankshalu (my dear people of Telangana, good evening. My warm wishes to all of you).”

Modi wound up his speech with “Jai Telangana” and asked people to raise the same slogan. He repeated it three times and told them to be shriller in chanting the slogan so that the “Delhi Sultanate” could be “shaken”.

BJP state chief Bandaru Dattatreya, former Union minister Ch Vidyasagar Rao, former BJP president Bangaru Laxman and other senior leaders were present at the meeting
(Source Hindustan Times)

Videos: