'You walked with those...': PM Modi's veiled attack on RaGa on Medha Patkar joining Bharat Jodo Yatra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in election-bound Gujarat to address rallies, made a veiled attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for walking with Narmada Bachao Andolan activist Medha Patkar during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. Hitting out at Rahul Gandhi, PM Modi said, "You walked with those who opposed the Narmada dam project."

Patkar, who led the Narmada Bachao Andolan, had protested against the Sardar Sarovar Project and had also raised rehabilitation issues. Modi asked on what moral ground is the Congress seeking votes in Gujarat when its leader was joined in his Bharat Jodo Yatra by a woman who stalled the Narmada dam project for three decades.

Addressing a rally at Dhoraji in Gujarat, PM Modi said, "A Congress leader was seen taking out a padyatra with a woman who stalled the Narmada dam project for three decades."

“Ask the Congress when it comes to demand your vote that you are taking out a padyatra by keeping your hand on the shoulders of those who were against Narmada dam. What would have happened had Narmada dam not been built,”Modi said.

"Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of the Narmada project and then it was inaugurated by me. The Narmada river was the only source of drinking water for Kutch and Kathiawar but the flow of water was stopped for three decades. The matter was dragged to court and a protest was organised so that the water did not reach people. An attempt was made to malign Gujarat to such an extent that even the World Bank stopped funds for the project," PM Modi said.

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BJP SLAMS MEDHA PATKAR, CONGRESS

BJP president JP Nadda on Saturday termed Congress 'anti-Gujarat' after Medha Patkar joined Rahul Gandhi-led ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ in Maharashtra, news agency PTI reported.

Nadda, who is campaigning in Gujarat, also said Patkar is “anti-Narmada, anti-Gujarat and anti-Saurashtra” who tried to stall the construction of the Narmada dam and opposed the use of water for the people of Saurashtra. “If such people join Rahul Gandhi, it reflects his mentality,” he told reporters.

Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday tweeted, “Congress and Rahul Gandhi have time and again shown their animosity towards Gujarat and Gujaratis. By giving Medha Patkar a central place in his Yatra, Rahul Gandhi shows that he stands with those elements who denied water to Gujaratis for decades. Gujarat will not tolerate this”.

Former Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani also slammed Medha Patkar and said that her participation in Congress programme shows the party "is against development".

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Patkar was the person who opposed the Narmada dam project. She protested over it and created obstacles in the state's development," Rupani told ANI.

"She joined Bharat Jodo Yatra which shows Congress is against development, which is their true face," he said.

Gujarat will go to polls in two phases on December 1 and 5 with the counting of votes on December 8 along with that of Himachal Pradesh. Of the total 182 Assembly seats in Gujarat, voting for 89 seats will be held on December 1 and the balance of 93 seats on December 5.

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(With PTI inputs)