Congress has attained 'mental bankruptcy': J P Nadda
Bengaluru, Mar 9: BJP national president J P Nadda on Thursday claimed that the Congress has attained 'mental bankruptcy' and lacks eligibility to function in a democracy.
Accusing the Congress of opposing the country in the course of its opposition towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP chief hit out at the grand old party for taking up the work of 'Bharat todo yatra' (Destroying India footmarch) during its recently concluded nationwide Bharat Jodo Yatra.
He also highlighted the achievements of the BJP government and Bengaluru in leading the way in innovation and many other areas.
Hitting out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's recent speech in the UK, without naming him, he said, no one heard him during his recent "Bharat Jodo Yatra" in the country, so giving speeches in England these days.
"These people (Congress) in the course of opposing Modi, have now started opposing the country. They started Bharat Jodo Yatra, but took up the work of Bharat todo yatra," Nadda said.
Addressing a public meeting here, he said, "No one heard them in India, so these days (Rahul Gandhi) is giving speeches in England....".
In a democracy there is a fight of ideology, with arguments and statistics. However, the Congress has become 'mentally bankrupt' and uses "low grade language" against PM Modi, Nadda alleged.
"Such people should be made to sit at home, such political parties don't have the eligibility to function in a democracy, democracy doesn't work like this," he added.
The BJP president was addressing a mega public rally in K R Puram Assembly constituency in Bengaluru, as part of the BJP's 'Vijaya Sankalpa Yatre' in the runup to Karnataka polls.
Nadda called JD(S) and Congress two sides of the same coin, stating that both believe in corruption, family rule, divisive politics, divide and rule, commission, corruption, casteism, and communalism.
"JD(S) believes in family rule, while Congress party is a family limited. In the same way Congress leaders top to bottom are on bail, involved in corruption and commission; similarly JD(S) too was involved in corruption," he said, adding that they both are like brothers, voting for JD(S) means strengthening Congress and voting for Congress means strengthening corruption.
Accusing Congress and JD(S) together of withdrawing cases against Popular Front of India and releasing about 1,700 of its activists from the jail, Nadda said, PFI which had created communal hate in Karnataka was supported by the two parties, but today they are banned across the country.
"We should not let such people to come to power....the country is secure under the leadership of PM Modi and in the same way the state is secure under former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai's leadership," he said.
Karnataka Ministers R Ashoka, C N Ashwath Narayan, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, among others present in the event.
Calling Karnataka a land of spirituality, knowledge, science, Nadda in his speech said, Bengaluru has a very special place on the map of India for its contribution towards the national growth.
Highlighting Karnataka and especially Bengaluru leading in innovation, startups, talent, technology, he also said, while countries around the globe are facing the impact of COVID and war in Ukraine, India under the leadership of Modi has emerged as "one of the most stable economy".
Pointing out that in 2014, India used to import 92 per cent of mobile phones, but today it is manufacturing them to the tune of 97 per cent, Nadda said, "Apple phones are also getting manufactured in the country, and Bommai has said very soon, Foxconn will manufacture Apple phones in Karnataka, and preparations are on for it."
He also listed out the achievements of the BJP government like growth of digital transactions, large number of regional airports in the country, and improvement in railway and road infrastructure, among others.
Appreciating the Bommai government's 'Chief Minister's Raitha Vidyanidhi' scheme, which has benefited farmers, tribals, weavers, fishermen among others, he also lauded the decision to hike reservation for SC/STs in the State.
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Strict security measures in place in Mumbai for Messi's events at 2 venues Dec 14, say police
Mumbai (PTI): In view of Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai on Sunday, the city police are implementing stringent security measures, like not allowing water bottles, metals, coins inside the stadiums and setting up watchtowers to keep an eye on the crowd, officials said.
The police also said taking extra care to avoid any stampede-like situation and to prevent recurrence of the chaotic situation that unfolded in Kolkata during Messi's visit on Saturday as thousands of fans protested inside the Salt Lake stadium here after failing to catch a clear glimpse of the football icon despite paying hefty sums for tickets.
Messi is expected to be present at the Cricket Club of India (Brabourne Stadium) in Mumbai on Sunday for a Padel GOAT Cup event followed by attending a celebrity football match. He is expected to proceed to the Wankhede Stadium for the GOAT India Tour main event around 5 pm.
"In view of Lionel Messi's visit to Mumbai, the police are geared up and have put in place a high level of security arrangements in and around the stadiums located in south Mumbai. Considering the chaos that prevailed in Kolkata and the security breach, we have deployed World Cup-level security arrangements at Brabourne and Wankhede stadiums," an official said.
Expecting heavy crowd near the stadiums during Messi's visit, the city police force has deployed more than 2,000 of its personnel near and around both the venues, he said.
As the Mumbai police have the experience of security 'bandobast' during the victory parade of ICC World Cup-winning Indian team and World Cup final match at the Wankhede Stadium, in which over one lakh cricket fans had gathered, we are prepared to handle a large crowd of fans, he said.
"We are trying to avoid the errors that occurred in the past," the official said.
There is no place to sneak inside the stadiums in Mumbai like the Kolkata stadium, according to him.
The police are also asking the organisers to provide all the required facilities to the fans inside the stadium, so that there will be no chaos, he said, adding the spectators have purchased tickets in the range of Rs 5,000 to 25,000. After paying so much of amount, any spectator expects proper services, while enjoying the event, he said.
The police are expecting 33,000 spectators at the Wankhede Stadium and over 4,000 at Brabourne Stadium. Besides this, more than 30,000 people are expected outside and around the stadiums just to have a glimpse of the football sensation, he said.
The organisers responsible for Messi's India visit recently came to Mumbai to discuss security arrangements. During the meeting, the Mumbai police asked them not to take the event lightly, according to the official.
After those requirements were fulfilled, the final security deployment was chalked out, he said.
Police has the standard procedure of the security arrangements inside the Wankhede Stadium, where people are barred from taking water bottles, metals objects, coins. Police are setting up watch towers near the stadiums and there will be traffic diversions, so that there is maximum space available to stand, according to the official.
Police are also appealing to the spectators to use public transport service for commuting and avoid personal vehicles to reach south Mumbai.
To avoid any stampede-like situation, police are also taking precautionary measures and will stop the fans some distance ahead of the stadium and public announcement systems will be used to guide the crowd. Barricades will be placed at various places to manage the crowd.
In case the crowd swells up beyond expectation, the police will divert people to other grounds and preparations in this regard underway, he said.
Additional police force has been deployed in south Mumbai to tackle any kind of situation, he said.
