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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday refrained criticising BJP's former ally Shiv Sena but led a scathing attack against Congress-NCP alliance which has been ruling for the past 15 years in Maharashtra. Modi, in his maiden poll rally in Mumbai, which was held exactly after a week when Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray had attacked the BJP for severing its 25-year-old alliance with his party, however, exhorted voters to give a comfortable majority for the BJP to boost Maharashtra's growth and thereby give a necessary push for country's growth and development.
"I request all Mumbaikars and people of Maharashtra to take a proper decision and vote BJP to power with full majority. If you vote Congress-NCP this time, it will destroy the nation. For India's development, it is crucial that Mumbai and Maharashtra also develop," Modi said at a well-attended party rally at Mahalaxmi Racecourse. He taunted the Congress and NCP asking what was the use of a government that did not even want to sit with him on stage and help him in Maharashtra's development.
Modi claimed that Maharashtra has the worst track record of communal riots after Uttar Pradesh. "Who is responsible?" he asked. His obvious reference was to the Congress-NCP government during last 15 years. "Do you want to be freed from corruption? Amitabh Bachhan hosts Kaun Banega Corepati. In Maharashtra, leaders were playing Kaun Banega Arabpati," Modi said.
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The Prime Minister levelled alleged that corruption and dadagiri were prevalent during the Congress-NCP rule. However, he said the people of Mumbai and the state cannot continue to live in such a state of affairs. Modi lambasted Congress and NCP saying that they kept changing chief ministers and deputy chief ministers, but not even a single dream of a the common Maharashtrian was fulfilled. He noted that no one spoke about India during Congress-NCP rule, but now even America is appreciating India.
"Mumbai is a mini India, Our Mantra is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. We want to take everyone together and work for development. A new era of economic progress will change India's destiny," Modi said. He asserted that Navi Mumbai international airport and Mumbai trans harbour link would be made operational during the tenure of BJP-led government at the Centre. Besides, Mumbai will get the best metro services.
Modi hit back at the Congress for accusing his government of not fulfilling poll promises, saying those seeking account of his performance in four months in power, have done little in the last 60 years. "They want an account of my work...what have they done in the past 60 years. Give me 60 months and I will pull the country out of its troubles," he said.
In an attempt to lure city slum dwellers, Modi said he understood their problems and also recognized their contribution for Mumbai's development. "I come from small and poor family but committed to work for you. Want to change the life of slum dwellers in Mumbai," he said.
Further, Modi said he has a vision how will the 15th August of the year 2022 look like. "My dream is that by 2022 when India celebrates 75 years, those living in juggi jhopdis havve their own home, water and power connections," he noted.
