PM Modi in Himachal: Corruption is the only identity of Congress

Modi in Himachal: Highlights from the day

2.44 pm: Receipts for government schemes were issued for 10,000 people but in reality beneficiaries were 5000-6000, money was released on fake receipts. We linked the schemes with Aadhaar, started direct transfer to bank accounts and now Rs 57,000 crore that was being siphoned off is saved,” PM Modi was quoted as saying by ANI.

2.35 pm: “The country cannot expect anything from Congress as it has become a non-serious group. They don’t know what they say, why they say or where they say anything,” PM Modi said.

2.30 pm: PM Modi said some people are still complaining about demonetisation because they lost their black money. “Unka khazaana chala gaye, isliye woh notebandi pe rorahe hai. Jo log note ghar mein rakhte the, woh bank mein aana parha” he said.

2.27 pm: Reacting to criticism against him, PM Modi said only the corrupt wanted to get rid of him.

2.21 pm: Corruption is the only identity of Congress, PM Modi said.

2.17 pm: PM Modi begins addressing public in Dhaula Kuan.

12.17 pm: “I will be visiting Himachal in the coming days. The mood in Himachal projects that there is no place for corruption in the state anymore,” Modi said before concluding his speech.

12.10 pm: PM Modi talks about the Doklam issue and the subsequent resolving of the crisis. “During Doklam row, people said that Modi ji must not forget 1962,” he said.  “Isn’t it insulting when these people asked held talks with Chinese leaders on Doklam instead of asking the elected government?” Modi said while launching a veiled attack at Rahul Gandhi for his meeting with Chinese Ambassador. “It is my job to be informed on critical issues. I met the Chinese Ambassador, Ex-NSA, Congress leaders from NE and the Bhutanese Ambassador,” Rahul had said.

12.08 pm: “Pandit Nehru had also said they’d uproot the Jan Sangh during its early years,” Modi said.

12.07 pm: This is not a Congress of Mahatma Gandhi or of freedom fighters but of corruption, dynasty politics and casteism (Bhrashtachaar, pariwaarwaad, jaatiwaad) and no thought, says Modi. “Yeh Congress party sadi hui soch ka namoona hai. Hum jab Congress mukt bharat kehte hain, hum iss sadi hui soch ke mukt bharat chahte hai,” he added.

12.00 pm: “Pakistan kehta hai Kashmir ko azaad karo. Kashmir mein aatankwadi aur algawadi kehte hai Kashmir ko azaad karo. Uske bawajood jawan ladai karta hai. Lekin mere desh ka durbhagya hai ke itne veeron ki shahadar ke baad, laughing club ka neta kehta hai Kashmir ko azadi par aalochana karna sahi hai (),” Modi said taking a dig at Chidambaram remark. “Those in power until yesterday have suddenly taken a U-turn and are shamelessly raising their voice for autonomy in Kashmir,” Modi had said earlier.

11.55 am: “There are five monsters in Himachal Pradesh which we need to get rid off — mining mafia, forest mafia, drug mafia, tender mafia and transfer mafia,” PM Modi said.

11.48 am: “Forests are being looted and your future is being looted,” Modi said while talking about the menace of forest mafia. He also talks about drug mafia that affects youth of the country.

11.42 am: Modi also said Congress needs to introspect why a forgiving country like India is out to punish Congress leaders by turning away from them one by one

11.40 am: “Congress party has become a laughing club. The CM has a corruption case against him. He is out on a bail. And then, they come out with a manifesto saying there will be zero tolerance on corruption,” PM Modi said.

11.36 am: “I wasn’t too eager when we were planning a meeting here because it wasn’t needed. I know we will win anyway,” Modi said.

11.32 am: “Jinhone Himachal ko loota hai, unko bidai karne ka avsar 9 tareek ko hai. (You have the opportunity to dismiss those who looted the state on November 9),” he said referring to the incumbent Virbhadra Singh government.

11.30 am: PM Modi tells the crowd that he is confident of BJP leaders winning the Himachal elections to serve the state

11.27 am: PM Modi begins addressing the public.

11.22 am: Former chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal addresses the crowd.

11.20 am: PM Modi will shortly address public at Rehan in Kangra district.

11. 15 am: The Prime Minister will also be present for the poll meetings on November 4 and 5 to promote BJP’s development agenda and highlight the corruption allegations against the Congress. This will be Modi’s second visit to the state in recent times. He had visited Bilaspur last month to lay a foundation stone of Rs 1,400-crore AIIMS project.

11.00 am: BJP president Amit Shah also addressed election rallies at Thunag in Seraj constituency in Mandi district and Hamirpur on Wednesday. “The Congress did nothing for the country under four generations of dynastic rule of the Gandhi-Nehru family and today Rahul baba is asking for accountability from the Modi government,” he said. Shah also accused Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Himachal CM of shielding the corrupt in the state and perpetuating “mafia raj.”

10.45 am: BJP has been using all its high-ranking ministers and leaders to campaign against the incumbent government in Himachal and highlight the disproportionate assets case against CM Virbhadra Singh. On Wednesday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh too used the development pitch, asking the people of Himachal to denounce Congress’s jamanati sarkar.