Exuding confidence on BJP in Kerala ahead of the 2024 general elections PM Modi on Monday made a major outreach in the state by conducting a road show, addressing a youth conclave and meeting heads of churches.
He also targeted the two main parties in the state--ruling CPI (M) and the opposition Congress over different issues.
On his arrival here for a two-day visit, Modi was accorded a rousing welcome with thousands of people, including BJP workers and supporters lining up on both sides of the nearly two-kilometre long route of his road show from the INS Garuda naval air station to the venue of the youth programme.
Modi landed at the naval air station after 5 PM and commenced his road show from there around 5.40 PM.
All about the roadshow
Dressed in traditional Kerala attire -- a kasavu mundu, a shawl and a kurta -- Modi began the road show on foot and waved to the people on both sides of the road and atop buildings along the route, which was under a tight security net with hundreds of police personnel being deployed for security.
People of all age groups, from various parts of the state, were lined up on both sides of the road, reaching the place hours in advance to welcome Modi. They showered him with flowers along the entire route.
Initially, Modi walked surrounded by SPG personnel with security vehicles in tow. Later he climbed on to an SUV and stood on its footboard to wave back at the people.
Enthusiastic BJP workers and supporters carrying party flags, wearing party hats or caps and holding placards with Modi's photographs also lined up on both sides of the road and cheered him on with chants of 'Modi-Modi' and drum beats.
PM Modi addressed a youth conclave
Later, addressing a youth conclave --Yuvam 2023--, Modi launched a scathing attack on the ruling CPI(M) and opposition Congress, alleging Kerala was being harmed due to the conflict between the two, and expressed confidence that the BJP would be accepted by the people of the state in the coming days.
Modi said the way northeastern states and Goa -- which have large Christian populations -- accepted BJP, its work and its government, Kerala too would accept the saffron party in the coming days.
"Be it the northeastern states or Goa, all those who have seen the BJP's work, the conduct of its government, let them be from any sect, cult or denomination, they all have accepted the Bharatiya Janata Party. Thus, I can say with conviction that what the northeastern states have done, what Goa continues to do, it will be done by Kerala too in the coming days," he said.
The PM had made a similar statement a couple of months ago, buoyed by the BJP's performance in polls in three northeastern states, including the Christian-dominated Nagaland and Meghalaya. He had said the party-led alliance would form a government in Kerala too in the coming years.
At the youth conclave, attended by film personalities including Suresh Gopi, Unni Mukundan, Aparna Balamurali, Vijay Yesudas and Navya Nair and former Defence Minister and senior Congress leader A K Antony's son Anil K Antony, the PM also referred to the gold smuggling scam allegedly involving some top officials of the Pinarayi Vijayan government and said the youth of the state were aware those in power were playing with their future.
"On one hand, we are working hard to increase the exports of India. On the other hand, in Kerala, some are working hard to smuggle gold. The youth of Kerala are very well aware that the people in power are playing with their future," Modi said, without naming anyone.
PM Modi slams Kerala government
He also accused the Left government in the state of not taking steps to provide jobs for youth.
"Our government is organising Rozgar Melas to give permanent jobs in the government. In every BJP-ruled state, the campaign for giving jobs is going on. However, the present Kerala government isn't focused on giving jobs to the youth. The youth of Kerala can never forget this attitude of the Kerala government," he said.
Noting that modern infrastructure plays an important role in the development of a state,Modi said the work on Kochi Metro was advancing at a fast pace with the help of the central government, and tomorrow the first Vande Bharat train was going to be flagged off in Kerala.
Without naming the Congress or the Left front in Kerala, he took potshots at both, saying that one was allegedly based on dynastic politics, while the other was allegedly more concerned about itself than the state.
Kerala is being harmed a lot due to the conflict between two ideologies. One ideology believes that their interest is above Kerala. The other ideology keeps a family above anything else. These two promote violence and corruption. The youth of Kerala need to work hard to defeat these two ideologies," he said.
Taking a swipe at opposition parties, the PM said that while former governments were "known for corruption", the BJP government was creating new opportunities for youngsters.
"We aim to create a self-sustainable society," he said, adding that the BJP government at the Centre was working by keeping the interests of youngsters in mind.
After addressing the youth, Modi met the top priests of various churches in Kerala, giving a push to the BJP's efforts to reach out to the influential minority community in the southern state ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
It is learnt that Modi met eight top Church priests including Syro-Malabar Catholic Church head Cardinal George Alencherry, Syro-Malankara Catholic Church head Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Syrian Orthodox Church head Baselios Marthoma Mathews III and Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Church Joseph Mor Gregorios.
The Prime Minister also met the senior priest of the Latin Catholic Church Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil, Archbishop of Knanaya Church Mathew Moolakkatt, Archbishop of the Knanaya Jacobite Archdiocese Kuriakose Mar Severios, and Metropolitan of the Chaldean Syrian Church Mar Awgin Kuriakose, BJP sources said.
The meeting, a part of the BJP's outreach campaign 'Sneha Yatra', took place at Hotel Taj Malabar after the Prime Minister attended the massive road show and the youth conclave, Yuvam 2023, at the Sacred Hearts College ground here.
As part of the party's minority outreach, BJP leaders in Kerala had visited Christian and Muslim leaders and the homes of people belonging to these communities on the festive occasions of Easter and Eid, respectively.
The CPI(M)-led LDF and Congress-led UDF are the two main fronts in the southern state where the BJP had not been able to make a major electoral breakthrough.
(With PTI Inputs)
