Thiruvalla (Kerala), April 4 Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified the NDA's campaign for the Kerala Assembly polls on Saturday, sharply criticizing the LDF and UDF over issues including the FCRA and the Sabarimala gold theft, and comparing their rivalry to a "WWF fight".
At a rally organized by a BJP-led alliance in the Pathanamthitta district, Modi addressed the Christian community, a key voting bloc in the state, which the BJP has long sought to attract, but has struggled to do amid attacks on Christians in northern Indian states and concerns over proposed FCRA amendments.
He claimed that the countdown for the removal of the CPI(M)-led LDF government in Kerala has begun, and a BJP-led NDA will come to power in the state.
Elections to 140 Assembly seats will be held on April 9 in the state.
"In the Northeast, with a significant Christian population, the NDA has formed governments in six states. We have delivered on work that was pending for decades. In Goa too, with a sizeable Christian community, we continue to drive development," Modi said, aiming to win over the community ahead of the crucial polls.
Hitting back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who accused the Prime Minister of remaining silent on the Sabarimala issue during his Kerala visit, suggesting that the BJP and LDF are working together, Modi claimed that there is a clear pattern in the "theft" at the Lord Ayyappa shrine.
"They are occurring under LDF rule, but are linked to senior Congress leaders," he charged.
Modi said the LDF has not handed over the investigation into the gold theft matter to the CBI, raising serious concerns.
"At the same time, Congress, which has largely stayed away from temple-related issues, is now trying to project itself as pro-Hindu. Once an NDA government is formed, a thorough investigation into both LDF and UDF will be conducted, and those found guilty will be punished. Devotees of Swami Ayyappa expect nothing less than justice," he said.
He also said that the corruption and appeasement politics of the Left and Congress are directly impacting Kerala's culture and faith.
"First, they defamed the Sabarimala temple. Today, it is being looted by them," the prime minister said.
Modi also accused the LDF and UDF of repeatedly misleading people, citing films such as "Kerala Files", "Kashmir Files" and "Dhurandhar" as false.
He also alleged that they are spreading misinformation about the FCRA and the Uniform Civil Code, citing Goa as an example where the UCC has been in place for decades, and added that similar claims were made earlier about the CAA.
Modi said the LDF and UDF have started a new propaganda where the Left and the Congress are calling each other the BJP's "B-team".
He said they are being forced to make such claims as they both know that, in the Kerala elections, if there was an "A-team", it was the BJP.
He said that during the election, both the LDF and UDF were targeting only the BJP, adding that this was because of what he described as a strong “secret partnership” between them. He alleged that their rivalry was not genuine and likened it to "WWF fights", saying their friendship was "evergreen".
"They are two sides of the same coin. Their enmity is false. It is like WWF fights. The friendship between LDF and UDF is evergreen. When a government is formed in Delhi, they are together. They are contesting elections together in neighboring Tamil Nadu," Modi said.
Another similarity between the two fronts was that they promoted people with extremist views for vote bank politics, he said and called it a dangerous trend.
Modi said the Sabarimala Railway Project would unlock new opportunities across the region by directly connecting Sabarimala with devotees. He said it would boost local trade and create employment opportunities for the youth.
"However, the state government has consistently created hurdles in the project. Once a BJP double-engine government comes to power in Kerala, these obstacles will be removed," he said.
He added that this was his guarantee and that Kerala would grow at a new pace.
"In Kerala, we will form the government, improve the quality of life, and address the concerns of fishermen and local communities," he said, extending his greetings to the people of Kerala for Easter and Vishu.
He said that Kerala has great potential, yet continues to lag behind other states in the race for development.
Basic infrastructure was poor in Kerala's rural areas as the LDF and UDF did not pay attention to that, he alleged.
The PM said that the NDA government at the Centre has not spared any effort for Kerala's development despite there being no BJP administration till now.
He said that the NDA government has spent five times more on development in Kerala than the Congress-led UPA regimes.
Modi also referred to the migration of youth from Kerala for jobs and said that it was the state's biggest problem.