Message is for appeasement, not for South: PM Modi slams Rahul’s decision to contest from Wayanad Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala was not to give any message to south India, but a message for appeasement politics. PTI

Apr 18, 2019, 11:40 PM IST Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said Congress president Rahul Gandhi's candidature from Wayanad Lok Sabha seat in Kerala was not to give any message to south India, but a message for appeasement politics.

Canvassing votes for BJP candidates here at a rally Thursday night, he wanted to know why Gandhi was not contesting from either Thiruvanathapuram or Pathanamthitta constituencies in the state.

Gandhi has filed his nomination in Wayanad as a second seat in addition to his traditional constituency of Amethi in Uttar Pradesh with the Congress saying it was a message to the southern states that they are deeply valued and respected.



1. Three-way contest

1/4 Thiruvananthapuram and Pathnamthitta, where the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple is located, is witnessing a fierce triangular contest between the ruling CPI(M) headed LDF, opposition Congress led UDF and BJP-NDA candidate.





2. 'Communists have a problem with our rituals'

2/4 Addressing a large gathering who filled the central stadium here, Modi lashed out at the LDF government and said the Communists have problems with regard to "our rituals".

"They do not like poojas and rituals. We know that. They cannot crush our faith. Today, people here cannot even utter the name of their God, false cases are registered against them and they are hit with lathis," Modi said.

He was apparently referring to the Sabarimala women's entry issue which saw frenzied protests by devotees and others last year after the state government decided to implement the Supreme Court order allowing menstrual age women into the hill shrine, setting aside the traditional ban.





3. 'Can't destroy our culture'

3/4 The Prime Minister, however, did not name Sabarimala or Lord Ayyappa in his entire speech.

"We will not allow them to destroy the culture and traditions followed since thousands of years. Even small children will stand as the chowkidars (watchman) to protect our culture," Modi said.

The Prime minister assured when BJP-NDA "is voted back to power on May 23", from "court to parliament" his government would fight for the faith of the believers.

"On this issue, BJP's stand is clear. But Congress is playing a dangerous double game. They are saying something in Delhi and another in Kerala," he said.

The Prime Minister also attacked the Congress and Communists and said both had ruled the state alternately and their ideology was "opportunism".

"In Kerala, Congress and Communists fight each other, but are together in Delhi. Keral me Kushti aur Dilli me Dosti.

This is not politics, but self interest and complete opportunism," Modi said.



4. 'Drowning in corruption'