In an impassioned plea to Goan voters, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, sought a “comfortable majority” for the BJP in the February 4 polls, while also promising to boost the state’s fortunes by encouraging international tourism and providing a stable Government.
Modi, who was addressing an election rally in Panaji, also said slammed political parties, who were contesting the upcoming elections to “cut votes”, referring to them as “pickpockets” of democracy.
“Goa should not make a mistake. Give us a full majority, a comfortable majority. I promise to you that if you give us a comfortable majority, we will make Goa the most comfortable state in India,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister, who is on his second visit to the coastal state in three months, also said that from 1990 to 2000, Goa was plagued by political instability, which had led to 12 chief ministers in a matter of 10 years and added that a stable Government in Goa was a must for the development of the small state.
“The Governments were busy about when the next swearing in would be. Therefore, Goa lagged behind. Instability suits the Congress. In the name of instability, they would horse-trade and they then would say, not much can be done because there is an alliance Government and our partners are not agreeing with us. As a result work would suffer,” Modi said, adding that instability was an “illness” which Goa had suffered.
“I want to congratulate current Government and Goans, because these five years have been years of development for Goa. A strong foundation has been put in by current Government, on which in the coming days, a lot of development can be done,” he also said.
The Prime Minister also said that Goa was dependent on tourism and the central Government was making tireless efforts to boost tourism in the country, which in turn, he said would benefit Goa.
“If tourism grows in India, especially foreign tourists, Goa benefits the most. This is possible because our Government in Goa has created infrastructure for tourism and our central Government has changed visa norms to make it easy for tourists to travel to India,” he said.
“Tourism is one sector which can be boosted with minimal investment. It also gives more jobs, with less investment. Everyone earns from tourism, across sections,” he also said.
Modi also cautioned Goan voters against smaller political parties, who he said were only interested in cutting votes of other political parties.
“The vote-cutters, they are pickpockets of democracy and such people do not wish well for anyone. They try to weaken democracy,” he said, in an oblique reference to regional parties which have mushroomed ahead of the February 4 polls in Goa. Over 10 registered political parties have fielded candidates for the upcoming state assembly elections.