Election is for electing strong, stable govt, not for re-electing 'demagogue': Cong slams PM
New Delhi (PTI): Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his pitch for electing a strong and stable government, the Congress on Monday said this Lok Sabha election is for electing a strong and stable government, not for re-electing a "demagogue".
The opposition party also said that Prime Minister Modi's remarks were a sign of nervousness and expressed confidence that INDIA bloc will get a clear and convincing mandate in the polls.
Prime Minister Modi on Sunday made a pitch for electing a strong and stable government in an uncertain world beset by geopolitical tensions as the BJP released its manifesto.
Asked about the prime minister's remarks, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, "This election is for electing strong and stable government, not for re-electing a demagogue. Strong and stable governments come from policies and programmes that address the concerns of the people."
"A prime minister who has nothing to say on farmers' issues, nothing to say on issues of unemployment and inflation, a prime minister who will refuse to talk about issues relating to workers, who refuses to talk on issues of social justice, social empowerment is making a pitch for a strong government, a capable government ... (in)his words. But the question is, strong and capable for what?" he said.
"That’s the real question and I think from our Nyay Patra and from the BJP's Modifesto, it’s very clear who has the agenda for addressing the concerns of the people," Ramesh said.
"So, we are going to the people. Our campaign is based on an agenda that addresses the concerns of women, youth, farmers, workers the disadvantaged and deprived sections of our society and that's a positive agenda. And we are confident that we will get a clear convincing, absolutely beyond doubt, a majority," he said.
"These words were also used I recall in 2004 and the people saw through that game, I think people have seen through this game. This is… these are all signs of a desperate and a nervous prime minister," Ramesh said.
Asked about the party's strategy in the polls, the Congress leader said there is not one thing but many things because India is a diverse country.
"What works in the south may not necessarily work in the north, north-east. So, we have a national campaign, but we also have to be sensitive to what the regional, and local issues are," Ramesh said.
"But most fundamentally this election is about saving democracy, it’s about saving our Constitution," he added.
The Congress leader said it is about saving constitutional provisions relating to secularism, relating to social justice, relating to special provisions for regions like the North-East.
"I mean that’s the fundamental issue in this election, it is the preservation of democracy, that India as we have known, India to be. The preservation of our Constitution and the values and its provisions and of course it’s about addressing the concerns of farmers, workers, youth, women, disadvantage sections of society," Ramesh said.
"We are hopeful that the people of India in a very silent way are going to give resounding verdict on the 4th of June, in favour of the Congress Party and its allies who Constitute the INDIA group," he added.
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Udupi CNG fuel shortage: Long queues of vehicles has become a common sight
Udupi (Karnataka) Apr 29: The coastal district of Udupi is going through a severe shortage of Compressed Natural Gas for Automotive applications.
Although the number of CNG fuel-based vehicles is increasing, the number of CNG filling stations in Udupi district has not risen. In the existing bunks, the supply is not as high as the demand. Due to this, motorists, especially rickshaw drivers have to wait for hours to get their fuel tanks filled.
“I've been waiting for not less than four-five hours everyday for the past one week. Most of the time my vehicle is idle and I am not able to take up fares, as a result of which I have lost so much of income and my bank obligations will take a beating if this continues any longer," Sundar Shetty, a rickshaw driver in Udupi said.
CNG fuel is not being supplied to existing bunks as per demand. And as the demand is high, the stock depletes quickly and sometimes the rickshaws are parked overnight in a queue for early morning refuelling, leaders of the CNG Autorickshaw Drivers Association said.
In Udupi town, there is only one bunk that has CNG facility, but most of the time it is empty.
“Due to high investment on land, equipment and daily stocks, there are not many takers for this business” the bunk owners said.
There is only one CNG station in Kundapura taluk out of three in Udupi district. There are more than 5,000 CNG based vehicles in the district.
The sight of hundreds of rickshaws and other vehicles waiting to fill CNG fuel at the CNG bank in Koteshwar every day from 4 am is very common.
Sometimes one has to wait till 8-9 o'clock. However, there is no guarantee that everyone will get fuel. Similar are the conditions in Karkala and Kundapur taluks of Udupi district.
The rickshaw drivers and other CNG users have appealed to the Udupi district authorities and approached the Udupi Chamber of Commerce and Industry to put pressure on the government to normalise supply and to open more bunks.
