In pics: Narendra Modi came, saw and conquered Andhra

Bangalore, Aug 12: One of the characteristics that distinguish Narendra Modi from rest of Indian politicians is continuous innovation in governance and politics. A latest instance of such novelty is the recently concluded rally in Hyderabad.

People willingly bought tickets

Political parties are notorious for organizing mega rallies by mobilizing huge crowds through incentives like cash, food, alcohol, etc. But in this case, for the first time in Indian history, people willingly bought entry tickets to listen to Modi and turned up in such huge numbers that not only was the entire LB Stadium in Hyderabad completely jam packed, but thousands waited outside only watching it through erected screens.

By initial estimates, the turnout was one lakh for the stadium's capacity of 50,000; and still the organisers and attendees showed exemplary patience and discipline that made the rally a grand success. All funds gathered from ticket collection would be donated to the victims of Uttarakhand tragedy. What better way to help and sympathize with your fellow countrymen!

Modi sounded more like a soldier on a mission

When Modi took the podium, he received an overwhelming reception from the huge crowd comprising mainly youth. From the moment he began his speech, he sounded less like a party campaigner and more like a soldier on a mission. Every Indian would be concerned by recent killings of Indian soldiers near the LoC, and Narendra Modi aggressively gave voice to their grief.

He came out openly against the Center's policy of going soft on the Pakistan and questioned the government's stance to engage with it even when they have neither apologized nor acknowledged their hand in the killings. India's Prime Minister was bluntly reminded about his promises during the inhuman beheading of Indian soldiers.

He stressed the UPA govt's losing focus on key areas

Modi gave instances after instances of how the incumbent government has lost all seriousness in dealing with national security threats, and how their vote bank politics are putting our motherland's safety at a huge risk - not allowing army to take action against infiltrators from porous Bangladesh borders, recent compromises we made with China, sending back Italian marines charged with murder that made us a laughing stock in front of the world.

After defence, the focus shifted to domestic issues and since the rally was held in Hyderabad, the subject of recent bifurcation of Andhra naturally came up. Modi accused Congress of rank political opportunism by not fulfilling its promise of Telangana after it came to power in 2004, and is taking up the issue only now when its political fortunes in Andhra Pradesh have steadily declined.

Greets audience

Narendra Modi greets the audience at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

With Venkaiah Naidu and others

Narendra Modi with senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu and other leaders at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Greets audience

Narendra Modi greets the audience at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Meets a freedom fighter

Narendra Modi meets freedom fighter Indrasena Reddy who showed a lot of grit to attend his rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Addresses the audience

Narendra Modi addresses the audience at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Greets audience

Narendra Modi greets the audience at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Leaders felicitate Modi

Andhra BJP leaders fecilitate Narendra Modi at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Greets audience

Narendra Modi greets the audience at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Greets audience

Narendra Modi greets the audience at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Greets the audience

Narendra Modi greets the audience at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Meets an elderly woman

Narendra Modi meets Mary Singh, a 85-year-old woman, at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

With other leaders

Narendra Modi shares the platform with other Andhra BJP leaders at a rally in Hyderabad on Sunday.

With actor-politician Balakrishna

Narendra Modi meets actor and TDP leader Balakrishna during his visit to Hyderabad on Sunday. Actor Mohan Babu's daughter Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna and retired IPS Gopinath Reddy are also seen.

Actor Mohan Babu's daughter facilitates Modi

Actor and Ex-MP Mohan Babu's daughter Manchu Lakshmi Prasanna felicitates Narendra Modiin Hyderabad on Sunday. Mohan Babu and his sons Manchu Vishnu and Manchu Manoj are also seen.

With actor Rana

Narendra Modi meets actor Rana during his visit to Hyderabad on Sunday. Senior BJP leader Venakaih Naidu also seen. Rana is the grandson of Dada Saheb Phalke Award-winning producer Rama Naidu.

With producer Dilraju and actor AVS

Narendra Modi with producer Dilraju and comedy-actor AVS during his visit to Hyderabad on Sunday.

With leaders and other dignitaries

Narendra Modi at a gathering in Hyderabad on Sunday.

With director Raghavendra Rao

Narendra Modi with Telugu film director Raghavendra Rao during his visit to Hyderabad on Sunday. Producer C Kalyana and others are also seen.

With music director M M Keeravani

Narendra Modi with music director M M Keeravani in Hyderabad on Sunday. Actor Ashok Kumar, director
Raghavendra Rao and BJP state president G Kishan Reddy are also seen.

With retd IPS officer Gopinath Reddy

Retired IPS officer Gopinath Reddy greets Narendra Modi with a bouquet in Hyderabad on Sunday.

During a one-to-one talk

Narendra Modi during a conversation with a guest in Hyderabad on Sunday.

In conversation with Venkaiah Naidu and Manda Krishna Madiga

Narendra Modi in conversation with BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu and MRPS founder Manda Krishna Madiga in Hyderabad on Sunday.

With leaders Manda Krishna Madiga and R Krishnaiah

Narendra Modi with leaders Manda krishna Madiga and R Krishnaiah in Hyderabad on Sunday. Venkaiah Naidu is on the left.

With Venkaiah Naidu and Andhra BJP leaders

Narendra Modi with Venkaiah Naidu and state BJP leaders like Nagam Janardhan Reddy and Kishan Reddy in Hyderabad on Sunday.

With Kishan Reddy, Manda Krishna Madiga and Venkaiah Naidu

Narendra Modi with BJP leaders Kishan Reddy and Venkaiah Naidu and MRPS founder Manda Krishna Madiga in Hyderabad on Sunday.

A sea of supporters at LB Stadium

Supporters at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad hear Narendra Modi speak on Sunday.

A supporter with a cut-out of Modi

An enthusiastic supporter of Narendra Modi at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Supporters at L B Shastri Stadium

Supporters hear Narendra Modi speak at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Women supporters at L B Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad

Women supporters of Narendra Modi at the rally held at Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Sea of people at L B Shastri Stadium

Huge crowd at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad to hear Narendra Modi speak on Sunday.

Sea of people at the L B Shastri Stadium

A huge crowd at the Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad to hear Narendra Modi speak on Sunday.

Supporters at the L B Shastri Stadium

A huge crowd at the Lal Bahadur Stadium in Hyderabad to hear Narendra Modi speak on Sunday.

With other leaders

Narendra Modi in Hyderabad on Sunday.

Speaks on an occasion

Narendra Modi speaks on an occasion in Hyderabad on Sunday.

With other leaders

Narendra Modi in Hyderabad on Sunday.

'The NDA had created states peacefully, not at the expense of violence'

He also highlighted how smoothly and peacefully new states like Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh were carved out during Vajpayee's tenure, and contrasted it with the violence and bloodletting that preceded the creation of Telangana. The man's statesman like qualities evidently came out when he talked about the concerns of both Telangana and Seemandhra, the regions considered mere rivals to each other.

He also displayed good political craftsmanship and sound understanding of Andhra's political history when he evoked the legacy of late NT Rama Rao and his lifelong struggle against the Congress, and appealed its inheritor Telugu Desam to continue his legacy.

With Modi around, how can one not get a flavor of development politics? While Andhra contributed a maximum number of MPs to the Congress party in 2009, sadly the party has not fulfilled the expectations of its electorate. Modi highlighted that maximum number of suicide cases are registered in AP and Maharashtra, both Congress ruled states.

Leaving politics behind, the state government was requested to take a leaf out of the initiatives taken by other states - notably Chhatisgarh's achievements in PDS, MP's initiatives in women empowerment, and other programmes in Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

He focused on skill development of the youth

To an audience mainly comprising the youth, he noted why no major initiatives of skill development have been taken in Andhra, how India loses valuable intellectual capital and foreign currency due to youngsters opting for foreign education because decent education opportunities are not available in India.

A very pertinent point was brought out that the phrase ‘inclusive growth' has gained popularity only recently because decades of Congress rule has excluded most sections of population from achieving the fruits of development. Congress party was also castigated for showing very lackadaisical approach to recovering black money stashed in foreign banks.

Mega turnout and passionate enthusiasm witnessed at the rally amply demonstrates that the youth is extremely disenchanted with the current government, and also leaves no ambiguity on whom do they perceive as an alternative.

Modi covered a wide range of issues

Modi's speech comprehensively covered a range of all major issues plaguing India - security, misgovernance, corruption, regionalism, education, growth slowdown, trust deficit with politics and politicians, etc. The speech's content and delivery reflects the confidence of a person who understands grassroots issues and is willing to provide solutions to the same.

He came out as a leader who knows the way, shows the way and goes the way.