After charging up cadre, PM woos Gujarat youth

AHMEDABAD / GANDHINAGAR: After charging up the party cadre in poll-bound Gujarat and making a pitch for rural development, PM Narendra Modi pulled out all stops on Saturday to woo the youth, another key voter constituency in the state, and in the country, on the second day of his visit to the state.

He appealed to youth to contribute — from driving reforms in security to excelling in sports — in building a New India. In two days, Modi participated in three road shows, kickstarting political season ahead of the Gujarat polls later this year. After the 10-km roadshow from the airport to state BJP headquarters on Friday, he carried out one from Dehgam to RRU, and another from Indira Bridge to SP Stadium.

With thousands of youths electrifying the atmosphere in Sardar Patel Stadium with their chant of “Modi, Modi”, the PM kicked off the 11th edition of the “Khel Mahakumbh”, an annual sports competition organised by the Gujarat government. He reminisced that the event was started in 2010, when he was CM, to boost sports locally.

“Just like ‘bhai-bhatijawaad (nepotism)’ in politics, there was a lack of transparency in selection of players for sports competitions. They used to struggle all their lives against such difficulties,” he said. “But the situation has changed now and players are touching the sky,” he said.

Earlier, at the Rashtriya Raksha University convocation, he advised youth to give a humane touch to policing. He said the earlier image of the uniform and baton was no longer relevant in the 21st century where police and security forces are required to learn everything, from cyber security to mob psychology.

“Post-Independence, there was a need for reforms in India’s security apparatus. A perception was developed that we have to be careful of uniformed personnel. But now, when people see uniformed personnel, they get assurance of help,” he said.