Congress busy digging my grave as I strive to improve lives of poor: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday accused the Congress and other Opposition parties of being busy digging his grave, while he was striving for the country’s development and welfare of the poor.

On his sixth visit to Karnataka this year, where assembly elections are due by May, Modi also asserted that the “double-engine” government is a must for fast-paced development of the state. “Amid the efforts of the double-engine government for the development of the country and the progress of its people, what is Congress and its associates doing? …Congress is dreaming about digging the grave of Modi,” said the PM, who inaugurated the 118-km Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway project at Maddur in Mandya district.

The Expressway will reduce the travel time between the two cities from around three hours to about 75 minutes, according to officials.

Also read: How Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway is changing travel in South India

‘People’s blessings with me’

Addressing a public gathering, Modi said, “Congress is busy digging the grave of Modi, while Modi is busy building Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway and improving the lives of poor.”

“Congress people, who are dreaming about digging the grave of Modi, don’t know that the blessings of crores of mothers, sisters, daughters, and people is the biggest protective shield for Modi,” he added.

Prior to 2014, Modi said, “it was a coalition government (at the Centre) running with the support of various types of people”.

“It did not leave any stone unturned to destroy poor men and poor families. The money that was there for the development of the poor, thousands of crores of rupees of it was looted by the Congress government,” he claimed.

Congress never bothered about pains and sufferings of the poor, he alleged. “In 2014 when you (people) gave me the opportunity to serve you, it paved the way for the formation of a government for the poor in the country, the government which understood the pain and suffering of the poor.”

Also read: Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway will contribute to Karnataka’s growth: Modi

BJP eyes Mandya for gains

The BJP government has made all efforts to serve the poor and to alleviate their sufferings, the prime minister said.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, actor-turned-politician and Mandya Lok Sabha MP Sumalatha Ambareesh, who recently announced support to BJP, among others were present in the event.

Earlier in the day, Modi threw flower petals back at the cheering crowd at several places as he was accorded a rousing reception during a massive road show in the district headquarters of Mandya.

With strong anti-incumbency fuelled by a wave of corruption allegations in Karnataka, the BJP is now banking on Modi’s popularity, hoping to win over popular support in Mandya, the region which has been the stronghold of its rival JDS for the election due later this year.

Modi enthusiastically waved at the large number of people, who had lined up on both sides of the route, as the ruling BJP appeared focused on winning a good number of seats in the old Mysuru region.

Also read: JD(S) will grow beyond old Mysuru and get majority in Karnataka: Kumaraswamy

Road to development

The Rs 8,480 crore Expressway project involved six-laning of the Bengaluru-Nidaghatta-Mysuru section of NH-275 and will act as a catalyst for socio-economic development in the region.

The Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for Mysuru-Kushalnagar 4-lane highway. Spread over 92 km, the project will be developed at a cost of around Rs 4,130 crore.

The project will play a key role in boosting connectivity of Kushalnagar in Kodagu district with the state capital Bengaluru and will help halve the travel time from about five hours, officials said.

(With Agency inputs)