Mysuru:  Maintaining that the Lok Sabha polls is crucial one for the country in terms of economic growth and security, senior BJP leader and former MLA Maruthi Rao Pawar has called upon the people to re-elect Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for safeguarding the country’s interest.

Pawar was speaking at a meeting of Ganiga community leaders organised by the BJP at Rajendra Kalamandira on Ramanuja Road here yesterday.

Stressing that this Lok Sabha election was all the more important than the previous elections, Maruthi Rao Pawar said that many micro-communities, which were hitherto sceptical of BJP are now turning towards BJP for a strong leadership under PM Modi.

Claiming that people from all communities are voluntarily coming forward to support BJP and this can be seen during the party’s poll campaign in all Assembly segments of Mysuru-Kodagu Lok Sabha Constituency, Pawar said that even JD(S) workers, who were unhappy with party’s tie-up with Congress are coming forward to support the BJP as they see a strong leadership under PM Modi.

Pointing out that District Minister G.T. Devegowda’s disappointment with Congress will come handy for BJP, Pawar appealed to the electorate to re-elect Modi for able administration and clean governance.

Former MLC Ganesh Karnik in his address ridiculed Congress for talking about poverty eradication even after 70 years of freedom.

Pointing out that the Congress has ruled our country for most part of the post-independence era, Karnik lashed out at the Congress saying that Congress which had coined the slogan ‘Garibi Hatao’ in the 1970s has now renamed this slogan as ‘NYAY’ in order to fool the people.

Claiming that while Prime Minister Modi is working for ‘Ek Bharath, Shrest Bharath’ meaning ‘One India, Great India,’ the opposition parties are out to divide the country by supporting divisive forces, Capt. Karnik said that the opposition parties have no moral right to speak about PM Modi when they themselves had indulged in large scale corruption when in power earlier.

Taking a dig at Congress leaders, he said that Modi delivers his speech extempore while most Congress leaders read out pre-scripted speeches.

Referring to recent surgical strike on Pakistan as a retaliation to Pulwama terror attack, Karnik said that Modi has given free hand for the armed forces to take whatever action needed to root out terrorism and then report to him.

Accusing the State’s coalition Government of failure in all fronts, he said that                                                       the people are determined to re-elect Modi as PM in the nation’s interest.

BJP Spokesperson and Mysuru-Kodagu LS seat in-charge Vamanacharya, party leaders M. Mallappa Gowda and Bhagyamma, Ganiga community leaders Papanna, Channakeshava, A. Balakrishna, Parthasarathy, Umapathy and others were present at the meeting.