Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) highlighting how the party is falling apart ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in Delhi. “We are seeing that even before the voting, ‘jhaadu ke tinke bikhar rahe hain’ (the straws of the broom are falling apart). Leaders of ‘AAP-da’ are leaving it, they (people) hate this party,” Modi said, referring to several AAP leaders quitting the party. Taking on the AAP’s claims, the prime minister told people that no jhuggi will be demolished in Delhi and no welfare scheme shut in case of the BJP coming to power.
Asserting that the Union Budget has filled every family with happiness, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday that this is the most middle class friendly Budget in India’s history and only the BJP respects the middle class of the country. He further claimed the Union Budget presented on Saturday (February 1, 2025) was to ensure that “Modi’s guarantees” were fulfilled.
Addressing a “Sankalp” rally at RK Puram ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls in Delhi, the prime minister spoke about various beneficial provisions of the Budget for the middle class to claim that never since India’s Independence those earning up to Rs 12 Lakh have received such a relief. The middle class is saying that this is the most friendly Budget for them in India’s history, he added.
Before beginning his speech, Modi spotted a portrait of himself among the crowd. He asked the Special Protection Group personnel, deployed for his security to bring the portrait to him. He also asked the artist to write their address on the portrait and said he would write a letter to the artist.
The PM also took a swipe at the Congress, invoking former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi to claim that their governments imposed heavy taxes on people’s earnings, while his government has eased the tax burden and provided greater relief to the middle class. PM Modi said, “Let me present a picture before you. It will help you understand better and make it easier to explain to others. If we look at this Budget-back in Nehru Ji’s time, if you earned Rs 12 Lakh, the government would take away one-fourth of your salary as tax. If this were Indira Ji’s era, you would be shocked to hear that out of Rs 12 Lakh, nearly Rs 10 Lakh would go into taxes. That was the scenario back then, which is why I am explaining this today.” He added that while a Rs 12 Lakh income meant paying Rs 2.6 Lakh in tax under Congress rule, the latest budget presented by his government ensures zero tax on the same earnings.
“Even 10-12 years ago, under a Congress government, if you earned Rs 12 Lakh, you had to pay Rs 2,60,000 in taxes. Now, after yesterday’s BJP government budget, a person earning Rs 12 Lakh in a year will not have to pay even a single rupee in tax,” PM Modi said. The PM said many residents of RK Puram have government jobs. “You have got not just tax relief but 8th Pay Commission is also being introduced, pension schemes were consolidated, and budget benefits extended to senior citizens and the retired government officials too,” he said, adding that young couples, too, will save a lot on taxes.
PM Modi then underlined the Budget offerings to Bihar to reach out to the Purvanchali community in Delhi, which plays a key role in the election. Purvanchal spans eastern Uttar Pradesh and western Bihar and many migrants from the region have settled in the national Capital. “The Purvanchali community made me an MP and the PM. The Purvanchali community made me who I am and they have been taken care of in the Budget. They were neglected in Congress’ time. People from Bihar were not respected. But we have respected them,” the PM said, pointing to the Budget announcements for Bihar.
The PM also assured the people of Delhi that no slum will be demolished if the BJP comes to power in the national capital. He was responding to recent claims by AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, who alleged that the BJP would target slum areas if elected to power. “Not a single slum will be demolished in Delhi. We don’t make announcements just for show. We make provisions in the Budget to back our promises,” PM Modi said in the rally. He criticised the AAP for spreading rumours to mislead the public.
Greeting people on Basant Panchami on Sunday, he said the festival marks the change in the season, adding that people of Delhi have made up their mind to elect a BJP government. Slamming the AAP government in the Capital for its alleged false promises and corruption, he said its policies have led to closing of factories, adding that those who have looted people will have to account for it.
The PM said the “AAP” has destroyed 11 years of the national Capital, and a double engine government dedicated to its development and growth will now be elected.
His government at the Centre, he asserted, has stood for strengthening four pillars of poor, farmers, youth and women, and the Budget is the guarantee of fulfilling Modi’s guarantees. The Budget’s focus on employment generating sectors like tourism and manufacturing will benefit the youth, he said.
He spoke of welfare promises made in the BJP manifesto, including for senior citizens and women, to highlight the benefits a BJP government in the national capital will bring to them.
When Modi gives a guarantee, he puts his heart, mind and soul into fulfilling it, the prime minister said.
With the middle class, including salaried employees, making up for a significant section of voters, the prime minister said his government takes decisions which meet their dreams and aspirations.
Expressing confidence about the BJP’s win, Modi said, “You can note it down the BJP government will be formed in Delhi on February 8, and by March 8, International Women’s Day, women will start receiving Rs 2,500.”
Women, he said, have worked as his protective shield and have made a big contribution in ensuring the third term of his government at the Centre. Delhi, he said, has paid a heavy price due to the AAP government and has decided to get rid of it, he said. Those who live in ‘sheesh mahal’ cannot related to a poor family’s jhuggi or a middle class family’s 2BHK flat, he said, in a swipe at former chief minister and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal. The AAP has committed scam and corruption in every field, including in health measures for people, he claimed.
With several AAP leaders, including sitting MLAs who were not given ticket by the party in the polls, quitting it, Modi said they have realised the massive anger people have for the party. Feeling jittery, the AAP is making false announcements everyday, he added.
