Agencies /Somnath/Ahmedabad
The historic Somnath temple on Wednesday stole limelight in the high pitched election campaign with Rahul Gandhi making a visit and offering puja while Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking a dig at the Congress leader citing Pt Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘unhappiness’ over the then President Dr Rajendra Prasad inaugurating the temple.
“Aaaj Somnath dada yaad ayi chhey (Today you are remembering Lord Somnath Dada),” Mr Modi said in an emotive speech at an election rally at Prachi in reference to Mr Gandhi’s visit to the temple.
He tried to offer a contrasting situation before the electorate of Gujarat – with Mr Gandhi’s visit to Somnath on one side to woo votes while the ‘hindrances’ created by Pt Nehru in the restoration of the temple.
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi tried to attarct people in their election campaign.
Mr Modi addressed public rallies in Morbi, Prachi of Gir Somnath, Palitana of Bhavnagar and Navsari districts.
Mr Modi said that Congress’s development model was giving hand pumps, while for BJP it is ‘Sauni’ yojana and large pipelines which bring Narmada waters. He also said that scarcity of water was the main issue of Kutch and Saurashtra, which has successfully been addressed by BJP government.
The Prime Minister mentioned about the coastal development and the positive role played by the state government in the development of fishermen and coastal areas.
Mr. Modi said that Congress is seeking to woo OBC communities but they should answer why they did not allow OBC commission to get constitutional status.
He said that the motion was brought in and was passed by Lok Sabha, but could not be passed in Rajya Sabha where Congress has majority.
On the other side, Mr Rahul Gandhi slammed the government on the issues of GST, Demonetisation and farmers’ problems.
He alleged that the Centre waived off debts amounting to one lakh 35 thousand crore rupees of industrialists, but did not waive off the debt of farmers. He assured that if Congress comes to power, farmers’ debts will be waived off in the State.
In Gujarat, elections are being held in two phases on the 9th and 14th of next month.
Talking to media in Gandhinagar today, Chief Electoral Officer B B Swain said, over 12 lakh 37 thousand new voters will use their voting right for the first time. Additional Director General of Police Mohan Jha talked about the law & order situation in the state.