KL-PM-LD SABARIMALA

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Tuesday slammed the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala and

Congress-led UDF opposition over the Sabarimala women entry

issue and said both fronts were two sides of the same coin.

Tearing into the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government,

Modi said its conduct in the Sabarimala issue will go down as

one of the "most shameful behaviours" by any party and

government.

Kerala has today "become hostile to the corruption and

communalism" of the LDF and UDF, he said while addressing a

huge gathering of BJP workers here.

Modi said for the last few months, the entire nation

has been talking about Sabarimala.

The conduct of the Kerala LDF government on the

Sabarimala issue would go down in the history as one of the

"most shameful behaviours by any party and government," he

said.

"We know that the communists do not respect the Indian

history, culture and spirituality but nobody imagined they

would have such hatred," he said.

Slamming the "multiple stand" taken by the Congress

and the party-led opposition front UDF in the state, he urged

them to clear their stand on the issue.

"The UDF is no better. The Congress has multiple

stands. They say one thing in Parliament but a different

thing in Pathanamthitta (where the Lord Ayyappa shrine is

located). They say one thing on Monday and a different

thing on another day," he said.

"I challenge the UDF, clearly state your stand on the

issue. Your doublespeak has been exposed," Modi said, lashing

out at his party's national arch rival.

The BJP's stand on this issue has 'always' been clear,

he said.

"The actions of our party match our words. If there is

one party that has been at the forefront of standing with

Kerala and its culture, it is BJP," Modi said.

"On one hand NDA goverment at the centre is working

day and night for the people of Kerala. But it pains me no end

that the Kerala of spirituality and tranquility, the Kerala of

harmony and happiness has become hostile to the corruption and

communalism of two alliances-- the LDF and UDF," he said.

Alleging that both LDF and UDF were "two sides of the

same coin", Modi said the Congress and Communists were

talking about gender justice in the Sabarimala issue but their

actions were "just opposite."

"The Left and the Congress make tall claims about

respect to gender justice and social justice. But their

actions are exactly the opposite," he said.

He accused the respective fronts of being engaged in

"vote bank politics" by supporting triple talaq.

Modi also criticised the Muslim League's stand on the

recent 10 per cent reservation for poor sections of society.

Triple talaq was a "big injustice to women" which has

been banned by several Islamic nations, he said, and asked why

India should have the practice.

"The NDA government has been working towards

abolishing triple talaq. Who is opposing us on this. The

Communists and the Congress," he said.

"...driven by votebank politics, Congress and

Communists support it. The people of Kerala should ask the LDF

and UDF why are they supporting a practice that causes

injustice to women," he said.

On the NDA's 10 per cent reservation for economically

weaker sections, he recalled it was passed by a 'historic'

majority in Parliament.

"We believe that every Indian of any caste, creed or

community deserves equal opportunity. We have also made

provisions to increase the number of seats in institutions so

that justice is done to all sections," he said.

However, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) opposed

it, he said.

"Do you know which party opposed it tooth and nail. It

is the IUML, the second largest partner of the UDF. We want to

work towards social justice but the UDF does not agree with

us," he said.

UDF and LDF were two sides of the same old coin which

were same in corruption, casteism and communalism, Modi

alleged.

"They are different in name, but in damaging Kerala's

cultural fabric, they are the same. UDF and LDF are different

names but in political violence they are the same. Different

in name, but in neglecting Kerala's yuvashakthi, they are the

same," he said.

He accused both party-led fronts of "ignoring the

poor."

Indicating that the BJP could make better strides in

Kerala, he cited the example of Tripura where his party

trumped the CPI (M) to form the government last year.

"The UDF and LDF may laugh at us. To them I say, don't

underestimate the BJP karyakarta. Your stones, your sticks,

your violence cannot break the moral of the BJP karyakarta.

They should see what happened in Tripura. From zero,

we formed the government there. What happened in Tripura will

happen in Kerala," Modi said.

His government was committed to all sections of

society and recalled its efforts to release Indian nurses from

ISIS activists, besides Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was held

hostage by militants in Yemen.

Modi also recalled the rapid strides made by the

country in attracting foreign investments in the past four

years.PTI LGK RRT SA BN

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