Referring to a Congress candidate’s charges that electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Porbandar’s polling booths were tampered using the bluetooth technology, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the opposition party of being jittery and insecure.

Invoking the infamous Blue Whale game, which has reportedly caused suicides among users, Modi said its last episode would be played out on December 18, when results of the election will be declared.

“Stop talking about bluetooth. Naach na aave, aangan vanko (If you don’t know how to dance, don’t blame the floor!). You have lost in the first phase. No EVM can be connected with the internet. You are caught between bluetooth and the Blue Whale. The last episode of this game will be seen on December 18,” he told a big rally in Patan, the ancient capital town of Gujarat, amid cheers.

He said the Congress is “rattled” by its impending “defeat” and by seeking shelter behind the EVMs, and trying to shield its top leader (Rahul Gandhi) from the fallout of the elections.

Modi said the BJP is sure to win across Gujarat. “They (the Congress) are spreading mud everywhere. The more the merrier. The more mud they spread, the more lotuses (the BJP’s symbol) will bloom.” “ Dukhe chhe pet ane koote chhe maatha ,” (When their stomach aches, they beat their heads!), he added amid chants of “Modi-Modi”.

In another rally at Nadiad in Central Gujarat, the birthplace of Sardar Patel, the PM said only vikas (development) is the solution to all problems. And for vikas , public safety and security is of utmost importance. “The BJP has provided complete security, and a curfew-free atmosphere in Gujarat.”

He sought to remind the people of North Gujarat of how their Congress MLAs had enjoyed at a Bengaluru resort when the region was severely flooded during the recent monsoon season, while Chief Minister Vijay Rupani and his government were busy in relief-and-rescue operations. “We are the ones who help you when you need it most. They escaped to Bengaluru for the sake of just one man (Ahmed Patel).”

Without naming Rahul Gandhi, Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress president-elect, saying those who cannot tell jeera (cumin seed) from variyali (fennel seed), nor know if gram grows on a tree or a plant, are spreading lies and asking questions about Gujarat’s development.

Replying to Rahul’s persistent questions about development and refuting his charge that he worked only for the rich, Modi said that as Gujarat CM, it was he who braved the sun each year “when they rested in air-conditioned rooms”, to enrol “village kids and poor daughters” in the government’s schools. It was he who launched an annual Krishi Mahotsava and spread awareness about latest agriculture techniques, and provided 24x7 electricity across Gujarat under the Jyotigram Yojana.

After becoming the PM, Modi said, for the poor’s welfare, the NDA government provided 3.5 crore free LPG connections under the Ujjwala Yojana, opened 30 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts, issued 22 crore RuPay cards, and made available ₹1,800 crore by way of insurance to the poor people.

“They are not family members of the Ambanis, Adanis, Tatas, Birlas or Kasturbhai Lalbhais. They are the common, poor people of India.”

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