Team Herald
PANJIM: As the State Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prepares for around 30,000 people to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s election rally on Wednesday; comparisons have been drawn to Modi’s 2014 rally.
The attendance number stands out with only 30,000 expected the rally which will be held at Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee stadium in Bambolim, as compared to the 1 lakh that turned up for the 2014 rally held at Merces.
While BJP members justified that 30,000 is a big member, which it is in isolation, but it is 30 percent of the 2014 attendance figures.
Back then, in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had a full majority under the then Chief Minister (late) Manohar Parrikar, which was cited as a reason for the over 1 lakh figures.
When BJP State president Vinay Tendulkar was asked why the rally this time would have just 30,000 people, he said though it was smaller in comparison, considering the heat, Dr Shyamaprasad Mukherjee stadium would be a better place.
“The rally is around 4 to 4.30 p.m and we did not want people to sit in the hot sun and hence we decided to have it in the stadium. Around 15,000 to 20,000 people would be present inside while we have made adequate arrangements of chairs and giant screens outside for over 10,000 to 15,000 people,” he said.
Besides, the rally would be streamed live on social media as well as national channels.
Though Tendulkar has given his side of the story his answer does not seem to be satisfactory for many who say the BJP base has declined. While the 2014 rally was held at Merces, the other grounds in North Goa could have been looked at, such as the SAG grounds in Campal; but the million dollar question was who would be able to pull the crowd, according to sources in BJP.
Hence, sources said, the Bambolim stadium was finalised.
Unfulfilled
promises
The people of Goa are badly upset with the failed promises of the BJP be it by the PM Modi led -government at the Centre or the State BJP in Goa.
The biggest disappointment has been Special status, with Modi making a promise in that regard in 2014, only for the then CM Laxmikant Parsekar to change the version in 2015, when he said that Special status cannot be granted to Goa.
“Special status cannot be given to Goa as the state tops in all the fronts. Special status is given to those states which have remained backwards,” he said.
Notably, the BJP had in its 2012 election manifesto also promised special status to the state.
Besides, Modi had also acknowledged that mining was backbone of Goa’s economy and it cannot be stopped.
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Here are few promises Modi made in 2014
ON MINING
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi said that his party would lift the ban on mining in Goa and also accord special status to the state, if voted to power at the Centre.
“Mining is an important trade. It should not just be for the sake of mining. It should be for the economy of the state. This industry is important for strengthening Goa’s economy,” he said while addressing the rally at Merces.
“If the raw material is locked and you sleep over the issue in Delhi, then no one can save Goa’s economy from being doomed,” Modi said while referring to the then ban on mining activity due to the Supreme Court order.
He said that human resources, infrastructure and raw material for the economic welfare of the country.
“We will protect the environment and transparent process would be adopted in the mining trade, which is currently on hold because of the lethargy of the central government.”
“Now the ban would only be for a few months,” he claimed, hinting at taking steps to lift the ban on mining if voted to power at the national level.
On Special Status
On the demand for Special status for Goa, the then Gujarat chief minister said, “Goa’s wants special status not for money, but to protect its identity, I would be proud to fulfill this demand.”
On Federal structure
Modi also spoke about BJP’s efforts at strengthening the federal structure of India, whilst disapproving the recent statement by the then Home Minister of India, wherein he wrote to the CMs to ensure that members of a particular community were not arrested. “On the basis of religion, injustice should not be done to anybody. If one is innocent, he or she must be free but this must be for everyone,” said Modi.
Stating the BJP’s commitment at changing the future of India, Modi said, “We need efforts to integrate the nation, not divide it. The 2014 elections are about voting for India. It is to decide what kind of India we want to create. So Vote for India. Neither for a person, nor for a party, let us Vote for India.”
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PM has to explain forgotten and false promises of 2014: Congress
Team Herald
MARGAO: “Prime Minister Narendra Modi must explain to Goans why he failed to honour the promises he made while electioneering in 2014 before making any fresh promises or jumlas,” said Leader of Opposition Chandrakant alias Babu Kavlekar.
He recalled how Modi, in 2014, had promised to resolve all issues facing Goa and Goans if the State gave him both MPs of the BJP.
Babu demanded that Modi makes his stance clear on special status and the mining imbroglio that has crippled Goan economy.
He added that only on the eve of the code of conduct coming in force, the prime minister only assured to look into the mining problem.
Babu urged the mining dependants in Goa to go for Modi’s meeting and ask him to answer these questions.
Babu also pointed out that despite most Goans objecting to the reduction of the no development zone from 200 mts to 50 mts from the high tide line, the Centre has gone ahead with the amendment which means it showed scant respect for Goans’ demand and desire.
“Although Narendra Modi had promised that the Goan Dhangar community would be recognized as scheduled tribes within six month of he becoming the prime minister nothing has happened for the last five years,” lamented Babu.
Pointing out that people struggled to open savings accounts in nationalized banks, Babu also criticised Modi for making false promises on creating 2 crore jobs.
