PM Modi lauded voters of the Bastar region for high turnout.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi put up quite a show today, much to the delight of supporters, before he addressed them at a rally for the second phase of the Chhattisgarh assembly election scheduled on November 20. Surrounded by smiling people, PM Modi beat a traditional red dholak before he took the mic. He praised voters of the Maoist-hit Bastar region for the high turnout despite the threats.
"Shouldn't people of Bastar be appreciated for such high voting percentage? I will tell you a way to appreciate them, on November 20 you register even higher voting percentage than Bastar," he said at the rally in Chhattisgarh's Ambikapur.
As PM Modi took to the stage, local leader threw the dholak's strap around his neck and persuaded him to proceed. A smiling PM Modi then briefly played the dholak as people around him clapped above their heads. Then he took his seat.
This was not the first time the Prime Minister tried a hand on musical instruments.
In May, PM Modi had played the traditional drums during his visit to Nepal.
During his speech afterwards, PM Modi highlighted the contributions of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee who, he said, created the state of Chhattisgarh in a peaceful manner. "The Vajpayee government helped form Chhattisgarh. For years, the Congress government did not fulfil demand for Telangana," he said.