Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that a “third force” like the “third eye of Lord Shiva” has risen in Kerala politics as an alternative to the recurring phenomenon of UDF and LDF rule every five years.
Addressing party workers in Thrissur, Modi said the people of Kerala have recognised the rise of the third force, the only one which can wipe out corruption and end unemployment.
“Alternate governments by LDF and UDF have been a phenomenon for several decades… The LDF and the UDF have looted Kerala alternately,” he said.
The PM said the situation has to change. “A third force has emerged here, a force like Lord Shiva’s third eye. This force will wipe out corruption from the state,” he said.
In his maiden address in Kerala after becoming Prime Minister, Modi mentioned the “untouchability’’ his party has been facing in the state. “Kerala had several social reformers. Inequalities including ostracism had ended as the result of efforts of reformers like Sree Narayana Guru. However, political untouchability still exists here.”
On the recent civic polls and upcoming Assembly elections, Modi said, “The hard work of BJP workers will be recognised. The civic poll outcome was a shower of blessings for the BJP.”
Lost in translation
PM Modi faced an embarrassing situation in the beginning of his address after a mistake in the translation of his Hindi speech into Malayalam. Right from the opening sentence, BJP leader K Surendran, who was the translator, could not pick up what Modi said. When Modi apologised for his delayed visit to Kerala after becoming PM, Surendran dropped that portion and wrongly stated “I’m very happy to come to Kerala’’. As Surendran struggled to translate, BJP state president V Muraleedharan took over the job.