Himachal Pradesh polls: Narendra Modi compares Congress with 'termites', says party must be thrown out of state

Kangra: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hit out at the ruling Congress, comparing it to “termites” and said the party must be thrown out of the upcoming Himachal Pradesh Assembly election. Speaking at an election meeting in Chambi in Shahpur Assembly in Kangra district, Modi lashed out at the Congress for criticising the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on 8 November last year. “They are going to celebrate 8  November as the black day and burn my effigies. They don’t know Modi is a disciple of Sardar Patel and won’t be cowed down.” [caption id=“attachment_4193081” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Reuters[/caption] “I haven’t come here to ask you to make the BJP win. I have come here to ask you to give it a three-fourths majority,” he declared. This was Modi’s second rally in Kangra, the district that has the maximum 15 Assembly seats out of 68 in the state. Taking a jibe at the Congress, the prime minister said, “I have heard that the Congress has lost the trust of its own leaders and is looking for rebels in other parties.” “I’m fighting against corruption today (Saturday) and hence have become a pain in their (Congress’) neck. People are bubbling with anger against the party. Should we or shouldn’t we fight against corruption? Shouldn’t the honest be rewarded?’ asked Modi. Modi, who gave a 46-minute address, wooed voters saying, “There was maximum development in Himachal when Atal_ji_ was in Delhi and Dhumal_ji_ was here in Himachal. You have a chance again.” Votes will be cast in the Himachal Pradesh polls on 9  November and will be counted on 18 December along with those in Gujarat.