Striking emotional chord with Mizos, PM refers to 'tribal dress outlandish' jibe of Tharoor

Striking emotional chord with Mizos, PM refers to 'tribal dress outlandish' jibe of Tharoor

Lunglei (Mizoram), Nov 23 On campaign trail in Mizoram, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said he felt with a great sense of 'anguish' when the Congress leaders 'abuse' the much cherished tradition and culture of the local tribal population in the north east and had once described the tribal attires as "outlandish". 

"You might remember how a few months back, Congress leaders insulted the traditional attire of north east. The attire given to me at different places in north east, was termed outlandish by them," Prime Minister said addressing an election rally here. "I feel a deep sense of anguish when I see the leaders of Congress party abuse the same tradition," he said in reference to certain remarks made on tribal attires by Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor. He said the Congress leaders speak a lot lauding tribal culture and lifestyle when they come to Mizoram for poll campaign, but the reality is different.

"Brothers and sisters (of Mizoram), the Congress rule in this region for decades show for them, the aspirations and sentiment of the local population make no sense," he said. "The cultures and attires of north east are rooted in nature. You find all the colours of mother nature in it. I believe, a rich tradition is that which is linked to own culture and tradition. This is my believe for the entire country," Mr Modi said.

"This is my vision, my thought not only for Mizoram but for the entire country. This is why in the last four years, the BJP government at the centre has worked for greater recognition and spread of Indian culture far and wide," Prime Minister said. Mr Modi's remarks on 'outlandish' tribal attire come in reference to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor making an observation in April this year mocking at Prime Minister for staying away from Muslim skull cap but readily wearing the tribal dress.

"I ask you why does our Prime Minister wear all sorts of outlandish headgear wherever he goes around the country or around the world? Why does he always refuse to wear a Muslim skull cap? You see him in Naga headgears with feathers," Mr Tharoor had said. Trying to strike an emotional chord with the electorate of Mizoram, the only northeastern state to be under Congress rule now, Prime Minister in his election rally speech repeatedly used the phrase 'sisters and brothers' while addressing the gathering.

"Today i come seeking your blessings for BJP," he remarked. Mizoram goes to the polls on November 28 to elect its 40-member state legislature. The Congress is in power in the state since 2008. The BJP, which had a miniscule presence in the state, is for the first time contesting 39 of the 40 assembly seats. 

PM Modi urges Mizo voters to get rid of 'Congress culture'

Lunglei (Mizoram), Nov 23 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday gave a clarion call to the people of Mizoram to get 'rid' of Congress culture in the northeastern state and said the BJP-led NDA dispensation in the centre has been working overtime to ensure developmental works in the region.
"People of Mizoram have golden opportunity to rid themselves of Congress culture," Mr Modi said addressing an election rally here.


He lashed out at the Congress party saying the grand old political outfit in the country has thrived only with its policy of corruption and divide and rule but hastened to add:  "The country has now understood Congress formula of ‘divide and rule’ pretty well".

"Congress is not a pro-development party. Its politics has been based on the policies of misleading people and create divisions among people and to create hurdles for developmental works," Prime Minister said in a state - which has since statehood in 1986 has been mostly governed by the Congress party. 


Prime Minister also slammed the 'lackadaisical working culture' of the Congress party and said this was responsible for poor infrastructure conditions in the state. Urging the voters of the northeastern state - which has overwhelming Christians and tribal population - to prefer his party BJP, Prime Minister said, "It is a firm commitment of our party and government that all constitutional rights given to Mizos will be protected".  He said his government has pursued a policy of 'Act East And Act Fast For India’s East’ and this has ensured development across the northeastern region - from Aizawl to Itanagar and Kohima to Kamrup.

In the wilds of Mizo Hills

"The BJP government works towards both - the pace and the development. The development work of the Railways has grown three times during our government....But due to the Congress government in Mizoram, people are not able to benefit from it," he said. "In fact, the Congress govt does not bother about Mizoram," he said.

Trying to strengthen his argument that the Congress government in Mizoram has had a lackadaisical approach towards development, Prime Minister said out of about 46 central government sponsored 
projects, nearly 50 per cent of them are showing delay in implementation.


"It is the Congress working culture which is responsible for poor infrastructure conditions in Mizoram," he said adding even developmental projects under North Eastern Council (NEC) funding are moving at a very slow pace. "The work culture of the Congress has caused many projects to be delayed, leading to crumbling infrastructure in the state," Prime Minister said.

The statehood for Mizoram came in 1986 and most period since then the state has been under Congress rule. In fact, the incumbent Congress Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla is in power for last 10 years since 2008. Previously too, Mr Lal Thanhawla has headed a Congress party run dispensation between 1988 to 1998.