BJP's Prime Ministerial nominee Narendra Modi addressed his maiden election rally in North Bengal on Thursday. The rally was organised by state BJP to support the party's Darjeeling candidate SS Ahluwalia.
Darjeeling is the sole seat BJP won in the last Lok Sabha elections when the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supported BJP candidate Jaswant Singh won the seat comfortably.
Flanked by GJM Chief Bimal Gurung by his side, Modi assured the Gorkha community that the BJP was sympathetic about their 'dreams and aspirations.'
With the GJM firmly supporting the party once again this time, Modi launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress government in Bengal. The BJP PM nominee urged the people of Bengal to bring about real change terming the Mamata government as a failure.
Modi said, "It is time to bring about a real change in West Bengal. We have seen enough of fake developments and now it is time for a real change and development".
Touching upon the plight of tea gardens in the area, Modi rued the fact that the world famous Darjeeling tea had lost it's supremacy to neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka.
"They have destroyed all the tea gardens. There was a time when everyone used to consume the famous Darjeeling tea, but now the markets are flooded with Sri Lankan tea. Is this the Parivartan you wanted to see. Tea garden workers are the most exploited lot," said Modi.
Modi was also quick to remind Darjeeling the special connection he shares with the beverage! "Tea is my first love. If tea wasn't there, and I didn't have the opportunity to sell it, I would never have been here! All of you are tea garden workers and even I am a Chaiwallah too".
He also paid homage to people of Gorkhaland.
"Gorkhas have contributed immensely towards the security of the country. I would like to tell my Gorkha brothers and sisters that your dreams are my dream. My 'mantra' is to ensure that you are treated with respect, your rights are protected and that you too get a chance for development," he said. (Indiatoday)
Darjeeling is the sole seat BJP won in the last Lok Sabha elections when the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supported BJP candidate Jaswant Singh won the seat comfortably.
Flanked by GJM Chief Bimal Gurung by his side, Modi assured the Gorkha community that the BJP was sympathetic about their 'dreams and aspirations.'
With the GJM firmly supporting the party once again this time, Modi launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress government in Bengal. The BJP PM nominee urged the people of Bengal to bring about real change terming the Mamata government as a failure.
Modi said, "It is time to bring about a real change in West Bengal. We have seen enough of fake developments and now it is time for a real change and development".
Touching upon the plight of tea gardens in the area, Modi rued the fact that the world famous Darjeeling tea had lost it's supremacy to neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka.
"They have destroyed all the tea gardens. There was a time when everyone used to consume the famous Darjeeling tea, but now the markets are flooded with Sri Lankan tea. Is this the Parivartan you wanted to see. Tea garden workers are the most exploited lot," said Modi.
Modi was also quick to remind Darjeeling the special connection he shares with the beverage! "Tea is my first love. If tea wasn't there, and I didn't have the opportunity to sell it, I would never have been here! All of you are tea garden workers and even I am a Chaiwallah too".
He also paid homage to people of Gorkhaland.
"Gorkhas have contributed immensely towards the security of the country. I would like to tell my Gorkha brothers and sisters that your dreams are my dream. My 'mantra' is to ensure that you are treated with respect, your rights are protected and that you too get a chance for development," he said. (Indiatoday)