Compare 48-year family rule with NDA’s 48 months: Modi

Puducherry, February 25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit out at the “one family” dynastic rule of the Congress for 48 years and said it should be compared with achievements of the “development-oriented” NDA in the last four years.

“One family, either directly or indirectly, ruled the country for 48 years... for about 17 years our first PM ruled, and after that his daughter held the reins for 14 years and following that her son was at the helm for five years,” he said. “Between 2004 and 2014, the same family ran the government with remote control,” he said. His comments come weeks after Congress chief Rahul Gandhi dared him to spell out achievements of the NDA government instead of criticising his party. 

Modi said intellectuals can debate the difference between what was gained and lost during the Congress regimes and what the BJP-led NDA has achieved in 48 months. “We are talking about people’s development, ease of living for the common man.”

In a reference to his oft-repeated slogan “Congress-mukt Bharat”, Modi said, “Elections are going to be held in the North-East where the Congress has a government and it will go. After that, polls are to be held in Karnataka and there too the Congress will go, so the Narayanasamy government will be the only one to be left.” He didn’t refer to the Amarinder Singh-led Congress government in Punjab.

The jibe drew laughter from the crowd that had gathered to listen to Modi, who became the first PM to address a public meeting in this former French colony in 33 years. — PTI