By: Sandhya Soans
NewsKarnataka-Mangalore
Mangalore, Feb 18: BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi here addressed a rally in the city on Tuesday February 18, followed by the mammoth crowd chanting his name.
A huge crowd, estimated to be over one lakh, at the city’s Nehru Maidan welcomed Modi like a hero. Modi began the rally by greeting the crowd with a few lines in Kannada.
During the occasion, the Dakshin Kannada BJP unit handed over the collected coal to him for the construction of a giant statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a pet project of the Gujarat Chief Minister.
Earlier, Prataph Simha Naik delivered a welcome speech. He said, “A historical step has been taken towards fulfillment of a dream, with the initiation of this “Bharatha Gellisi” rally on political grounds. BJP is trying to instigate change in the society under the guidance of Narendra Modi.”
Further he welcomed all the delegates present on the dais which included top BJP leader and the former Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda, vice-president of BJP State unit MB Bhanuprakash, Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel, and other BJP leaders such as CT Ravi, Najraj Shetty, Krishna Palamar, Koragappa Naik, Capt Ganesh Karnik, M Yogesh Bhat, Rina Prakash, Shamal Kunder, Srinivas Koota, Vikram Arjun Hegde, S Angara, Rajesh Naik and others.
Mangalore MP Nalin Kumar Kateel in his address said,”In the political world there was darkness but a ray has come from Gujarat to enlighten the society. Only through being born in political families a person cannot be a Prime Minster of India, but on the will and love towards the country can empower a person to be a PM that is no other than Narendra Modi.”
Alleging the congress he said that the UPA government has been responsible for the corruption in the country. He also stated that a PM should be a man with self – deliverance, self – liberation, and willingness to make a change, that Narendra Modi has in himself.
BJP MLA Karkala V Sunil Kumar addressing the gathering said,“In the past this district was known for its culture, tradition, politics and patriotism but today under the congress regime the Dakshina Kannada district is known for Yasin Bhatkal with regards to terrorism, the Derallakatte case, the Naxalism in the state and many such hindrances.”
On the occasion top BJP leader and the former Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda along with BJP leader and former Minister for Higher Education CT Ravi also addressed the rally before Narendra Modi could speak to the outsized gathering.
