LIVE: Narendra Modi blasts Congress for playing vote bank politics at Goa rally

Panaji: Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today accused Congress of playing votebank politics and appealed to people of Goa to make a ‘Congress mukta Bharat' (Congress free India).Blasting Congress govt at Delhi for pursuing appeasement policies for electoral gains, Modi wondered how criminals can be differentiated on the basis of religion.“Injustice should not be done to anybody on the basis of religion. If one is innocent he or she must be free but this should be applied to everyone,” said Modi.Modi praised BJP for giving a person like him , who used to sell tea, the opportunity to be the PM candidate.He also took to task Kejriwal led AAP for casting aspersions on the honesty and integrity of BJP leaders. He reminded them that even after being PM for six long years, Atal Bihari Vajpayee does not own a house even today. Modi said that ‘Congress free India' does not mean freedom from Congress leaders only. It also means freedom from Congress culture.The rally was attended by around 2 lakh people. According to BJP, 25,000 people from minority groups had registered for participation in this rally.People attending this rally had paid a fee of Rs 5 and the BJP said the money collected will be donated to the victims of building collapse in Goa.Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and BJP president Rajnath Singh also attended this rally.Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today addressed ‘Vijay Sankalp Rally' in Goa .The rally is being held at 4pm and the venue is St. Cruz on the outskirts of the capital city. People attending this rally have paid a fee of Rs 5.Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar and BJP president Rajnath Singh are also attending this rally.According to BJP, 25,000 people from minority groups have registered for participation in this rally.Here we are giving you minute-by-minute updates of this rally:07:28pm- Narendra Modi concludes his speech with chants of Bharat mata Ki jai & Vande Matram07:27pm- Narendra Modi:This election is about voting for India. It is to decide what kind of India do we want to create. VOTE FOR INDIA.07:27pm- Narendra Modi:This is a state that has common civil code. People are living peacefully and happily. BJP believes in brotherhood07:26pm- Narendra Modi:We are committed to changing the future of India07:26pm- Narendra Modi:Unfortunately, Parrikar ji is not in Delhi and media cannot see beyond Delhi. There are many such people living for the nation07:25pm- Narendra Modi:Imagine what would happen if Manohar Parrikar was in Delhi. People would know what a simple man he is07:25pm- Narendra Modi:This is a new way of thinking and it is a welcome step07:24pm- Narendra Modi:I felt proud of the Goan people. They told me we want special status for Goa's identity, for Goa's environment07:23pm- Narendra Modi:I was given memorandum for Special Status for Goa. In India it means more money but here I was told- we do not want money07:22pm- Narendra Modi:Will you keep questioning us? We may be in power but we are committed to service & integrity07:21pm- Narendra Modi:Atal ji was in politics for years, he became PM as well but till date he does not have his own house07:20pm- Narendra Modi:Those wanting to defend Congress keep asking questions to BJP. I want to say a few things to them.07:19pm- Narendra Modi:Law and order is a state subject. Shinde ji, do not tutor states on law & order while sitting in Delhi. This is against federal structure:07:17pm- Narendra Modi:Injustice should not be done to anybody on the basis of religion. If one is innocent he or she must be free but this should be for everyone.07:15pm- Narendra Modi:But,Home Minister of India is playing votebank politics, he is writing to CMs that members of a particular community should not be arrested.07:13pm- Narendra Modi:You tell me, should those who have committed wrongs be punished or not? Should the law not be the same for all wrong doers?07:12pm- Narendra Modi:Home Minister of India said something that is very worrying.07:11pm- Narendra Modi:We will strengthen the federal structure of India that the Congress has weakened only to remain in power07:10pm- Narendra Modi: Not only government in Delhi does not do anything but it prevents others from doing things as well07:08pm- Narendra Modi:Files in the environment ministry were stalled. Nothing was happening without money. 1st time we heard of a Jayanti Tax07:06pm- Narendra Modi:We will safeguard the environment and bring transparency in mining for the growth of India07:04pm- Narendra Modi:I want to assure you, people who had to face these problems...it is only a matter of time now07:02pm- Narendra Modi:People ask me, Modi ji what will you do? We will strengthen offices & institutions. We believe in decentralisation07:00pm- Narendra Modi: Who were the people to give you these problems? Do we not need to punish those people?06:58pm-- Narendra Modi: My young friends, do you want to live the lives your elders lived, the problems they faced?06:56pm- Narendra Modi: When I say Congress Mukt Bharat, I do not mean Congress Party leaders only but the culture that they represent06:54pm- Narendra Modi: People of India have decided to uproot the Congress. 'Congress Mukt Bharat'is not mere slogan of BJP, it's a resolution of the entire nation.06:52pm- Narendra Modi: Look at Shivraj ji, Raman Singh, Dhumal ji...they are ll from very ordinary backgrounds and they devoted themselves to serving India06:50pm- Narendra Modi: Imagine the strength of this Party, a child born in a poor house who used to sell tea was taught and inspired to serve the nation06:48pm- Narendra Modi:These are the values of the BJP. The Party has taught us these values that we have to be with the people in their good & bad times06:47pm- Narendra Modi:I saw on TV, during the collapse, Manohar Parrikar ji was at the site & we could see his skills as an engineer06:46pm- Narendra Modi: I'm told that those attending this rally have paid Rs 5 each. Money collected will go to the families of those who lost their lives in the unfortunate building collapse. I'm greatful to the party president and Goa CM for this initiative. 06:43pm - Narendra Modi begins his speech.06:40pm- Rajnath Singh: Vision, Conviction and Courage...if any one leader has all these qualities then it is Narendra Modi who is BJP's PM candidate06:38pm- Rajnath Singh:Every state should have a CM like Manohar Parrikar. He has succeeded in reducing poverty.06:36pm- Rajnath Singh: Narendra Bhai has vision to make India a developed state.06:34pm- Rajnath Singh: For 6 long years, prices were kept under control by Vajpayee govt.06:33pm- Rajnath Singh: UPA govt led by Manohan Singh has failed to contain inflation. It was Atal Bihari Vajpayee who succeeded in checking inflation.06:26pm- Rajnath Singh: It was at the Goa meeting in June 2013 that we we began the process of making Narendra Modi the PM06:18pm- Manohar Parrikar:People feel there is only one leader who can solve these problems and that leader is sitting here.06:16pm- Manohar Parrikar: We have fulfilled the promises we made to the people in 22 months06:14pm- Manohar Parrikar:Goa begins the process of change in India & wherever Goa has given BJP 2 seats, BJP has formed Government06:12pm- Manohar Parrikar: This is a historic rally. Out of 10 lakh voters in Goa, over 2 lakh people are present here to hear Narendra Modi.1 pm: Goa in-charge Smriti Irani feels, one lakh people are expected to turn out to hear Modi. Says, both Modi and Manohar Parrikar are two extraordinary individuals, who came from ordinary families, but rose in BJP through hard work, honesty and dignity and have rewritten the rules of governance. 12:30 pm: Huge police deployment at Merces ground, the rally venue. Traffic has been diverted from roads leading to the venue.12 noon: Vinay Tendulkar, Goa BJP chief says he has personally invited leaders of alliance partners like Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party to attend the rally.