Shillong, Feb 24: Scores of people and BJP supporters on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Shillong as he arrived to campaign for the BJP candidates contesting in the upcoming Meghalaya Assembly elections.
Speaking to the large crowd at the Police Bazaar, the heart of Shillong, after taking out a road show through the city, PM Modi urged the people of the State to vote for BJP so that he can work more closely for the people of the state.
He also alleged that some family-based political parties have been using Meghalaya and all other states of Northeast as ATMs to exploit the region’s resources, while the BJP considers the eight states of the region as ‘Ashtalakshmi’ (eight forms of Goddess Lakshmi) and is working for its peace and development.
“This is the reason why people of Meghalaya and the entire NE now want BJP to rule them so that the interests of development and peace get priority over ‘interests of certain families’,” Modi said.
“All along my road show in this beautiful city today, I have seen this very clearly that is ‘Meghalaya wants BJP’. So, let BJP rule you here so that I am in an advantageous position to serve the people of Meghalaya better from New Delhi,” he said while exuding confidence that people of Meghalaya and the rest of the NE are now with the BJP.
Earlier, before starting his road show, he paid floral tributes to Meghalaya’s freedom fighters at the State Central Library – U Tirot Sing, U Kiang Nangbah and Pa Togan Sangma.
The road show began at the Central Library and ended at the Police Bazaar, where he spoke to a public rally. The road spectacle drew a tremendous crowd, with people queuing on both sides of the road through which the PM’s cavalcade passed.
PM Modi also hit out at the Congress relating to Pawan Khera’s “Modi Teri kabar khudegi” remark. “Some people who have been rejected by the country are immersed in sadness and are now saying ‘Modi, your grave will be dug,’ but the people of the country are saying that ‘Modi, your lotus will bloom’. The people of the country will give a befitting reply to such people,” he said.
The polling to elect new members to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly will be held on February 27, and the counting of votes will take place on March 2.
