BJP, PM Modi to get 'shock treatment' in polls    

Thiruvananthapuram, May 13: BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who compared Kerala to Somalia during an election rally, kicking up a furore, will get a 'shock treatment' in the May 16 assembly polls, senior congress leader A K Antony said on Friday (May 13).

"The Prime Minister's remarks comparing Kerala and Somalia will result in both him and BJP getting a 'shock treatment' in the hustings," he told reporters at Kollam.

Modi had compared the infant mortality rate among tribals in the state with that of African country Somalia during the poll campaign rally earlier this week, triggering widespread criticism among political parties in Kerala.

Antony took a swipe at the visits of the PM and union ministers to the state in the run up to the polls, saying "The Prime Minister and a dozen central ministers are camping in the state since the past few days. If there is a need the cabinet can meet in Kerala."

Antony also attacked the CPI(M)-led LDF, saying it will have to sit in the opposition for another five years. Alleging that the Prime Minister was 'cheating' the state with his promises, Antony said that after the Puttingal temple tragedy at Kollam, in which 109 persons were killed and several others injured, Kerala's only plea had been to declare the mishap as a national disaster, which was not considered.

The state's plea to amend the CRZ norms brought by the centre, taking into consideration the difficulties faced by fishermen in coastal areas was also turned down, he said.

He said if the ruling congress headed UDF was given a chance to govern the state for another five years, it would take up peoples' welfare, development and education matters in such a way that Kerala will become the number one state in the country.

PTI