The BJP candidate from Garhwal lok Sabha constituency and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Maj General (retd) Bhuwan Chandra Khanduri said that the people in Rudraprayag and Chamoli districts have responded positively to the BJP with much enthusiasm for its PM candidate Narendra Modi though people of remote areas have not seen Modi. The public is in the mood for change of Government.
Talking to The Pioneer here on Friday, Khanduri said that the people are frustrated with the governance of Congress-led UPA Government during the last 10 years and with the two year regime of Congress-led State Government.
During its 10 year term, the UPA Government had failed in all spheres including development and had not redressed the problems faced by the common people. The people have suffered hardship due to price hike and corruption which has annoyed the masses. The prestige of the nation has also suffered in the international community as the Central Government failed to give a befitting reply to intrusions by neighbouring Pakistan and China. “Price hike and corruption are main issues that I am raising in my campaign. The anti-incumbency factor at the Centre and State is also working against the Congress. The Modi wave has spread across the nation due to his personality and mental make up. The general expectation is that a change in the government will boost the prestige of the nation, provide relief from price hike and eradicate corruption,” he said.
Khanduri added that the disaster victims are still facing hardships as little work has been ensured for their proper rehabilitation. The condition of roads is still bad 10 months after last year’s disaster. Congress led State Government lacks the vision for development while the corruption graph is consistently rising.
Responding to the statement by Congress about the BJP fielding an ‘old man’ from Garhwal, Khanduri said that voters see the conduct, character, corruption free image and the service rendered by a candidate and not old age. “The people know the candidates of the Congress and BJP. Congress plays the caste card in the election, but this will not affect the election as I have been seeing this factor since 1991,” he said while adding that Satpal Maharaj’s campaign will increase the votes for BJP as he has large number of followers.