Nellore: Former Indian cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin said he was selected for the Indian cricket team after he scored a century in a match at Machilipatnam. He mentioned this when he was recalling his association with the Seemandhra region. He was addressing a meeting at Nellore city and later in Atmakur town as part of his election campaign for the Congress candidates on Wednesday.
The former captain of the Indian team ridiculed the boast of the BJP that Gujarat is a highly developed state, pointing out that it is in the eighth or ninth position when it comes to social sectors.Reacting to former Nellore rural MLA Anam Vivekananda Reddy’s suggestion that he hit the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi into the ocean like he would with a ball, Mr Azharuddin said, “One man can’t hit Modi; let us all join to do it with our votes.”
In an obvious reference to the anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat more than a decade ago, he told his mainly Muslim audience that it is their turn to fight through their votes. He stressed that the Congress is the only party committed to protecting the minorities.
Mr Azharuddin, who is Congress nominee for the Tonk-Sawai Madhopur Lok Sabha constituency in Rajasthan this time, gave Congress the credit for developing Andhra Pradesh. He said that Andhra Pradesh was the best example of development and he has not come across such development in other parts of the country.
He dwelt at length on various welfare schemes introduced by the Congress for the poor. The former India captain said he would love to play in Nellore if a stadium was constructed here.
He said just as he was decorated with flowers like a bridegroom earlier, the Congress nominees from the constituency should be adorned in like manner but with votes, not flowers.Mr Azharuddin has also said that he will come and play cricket in Nellore if minorities give their mandate to the Congress candidates. He added that he is bowled over by the love and affection of Nellore people.
He urged voters to back the Congress nominee for the Nellore Lok Sabha seat, Vakati Narayana Reddy, Nellore City Assembly nominee A.C. Subba Reddy and Nellore rural segment nominee Anam Vijayakumar Reddy.
Several religious heads of the Muslim community, Nellore rural legislator Mr Anam Vivekananda Reddy and DCC president Mr K. Dhanunjaya Reddy were present during the programme in Nellore.
