Knowing well how to play his political cards, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday pushed aside as “rumours and a pack of lies” the controversy about migration of Sikh farmers from Kutch region in Gujarat, promising that no Sikh farmer will have to leave Gujarat.
“I’ll make sure farmers from Punjab are not evicted from Gujarat. If any official is targeting Sikh farmers in Gujarat, they will be punished. Every Indian has the right to live in Gujarat just as I have,” said Modi. Playing the emotional card of his, and Gujarat’s special association with Punjab, Modi sought vote from Punjabis “for fateh (victory) in lok Sabha polls”. “I and Gujarat shares a special bond with Punjab… When Guru Nanak Dev came to Gujarat, he went to lakhpat Gurudwara in Kutch…it has still preserved Guru Nanak’s paduka (footsteps). Gujarat’s Gurudwara that Nanak Dev stayed in was destroyed during Bhuj earthquake and we called in experts to rebuild the Gurudwara,” said Modi.
He added, “Kutch is a dry region. Farmers from Punjab came and settled in that area and due to their hard work, the border area of Kutch has lush green fields. All Indians have an equal right over Gujarat.” On threats to Punjab for being a border State, Modi said that Pakistan smuggles drugs and fake currencies from across the border to weaken our youth. But, the Centre is not at all worried in this regard. We need to make our borders safe that is the need of the hour. We cannot ruin our nation.”
lauding Badal father-son duo, Modi added, “Badal sahab and Sukhbir are a wonderful pair. Former thinks about farmers, the latter is concerned about how to make State modern. They will drive our growth. We need to concentrate on value addition when it comes to agriculture. We need to work on branding and marketing of agricultural produce for benefit of farmers,” Modi added
Hitting out at the Congress, Modi said that all scams took place under Congress rule and yet, they point finger at us. Congress has become synonymous with corruption. The Congress has changed the nomenclature of ABC. It is now A for Adarsh scam, B for Bofors and C for Coal scam, said Modi listing various scams. Speaking at the Fateh Rally, BJP national president Rajnath Singh said, “When the NDA comes to power, it will pressurise the UK Government to change the history books where freedom fighter Bhagat Singh is termed a terrorist and make it ‘martyr’.”
“It really pains us when Bhagat Singh was called a terrorist in England. The NDA will bring a resolution to this effect in the Parliament,” said Rajnath. Endorsing Badal’s demand to present separate budget for agriculture, Rajnath maintained that NDA would start a new TV channel for agriculture, if comes to power. He added that Badal was the first leader to recommend Modi’s name for PM. At the rally, SAD president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal claimed that Akali–BJP will win all 13 lok Sabha seats in Punjab. Sukhbir asked all the party workers to “postpone family engagements, including marriages till lok Sabha polls and work to make Modi our next Prime Minister.”
HIGHlIGHTS
Sidhu Missing: Once the party’s “star campaigner”, the BJP’s lone MP from Punjab, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu gave Modi’s rally a miss. He was not seen on the stage with other senior SAD-BJP leaders. Sidhu had earlier maintained that he had not received any invite for Modi rally, and he would not be attending it if he was not invited or told about it. At the rally, BJP president Rajnath Singh mentioned the names of all BJP and Akali Dal in his speech but not Sidhu. Speculation is rife that Akali-BJP alliance is going to replace Sidhu from Amritsar seat, where he has elected thrice since 2004.
Preeti Sapru joins BJP: Actress Preeti Sapru on Sunday joined the saffron brigade during Fateh Rally in the presence of party president Rajnath Singh and BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. The 56-year-old actress, who has acted in several Hindi and Punjabi movies, was formally inducted into the party on the stage at Jagraon rally.
Rajnath backs agri budget, praises Badal and Modi: BJP national president Rajnath Singh promised industrial aid to Punjab and introduction of a special agriculture budget, on the lines of the one for railways. Wooing young voters, he promised to reduce rate of interest on loans so that unemployed youth could become self-employed.
Arrangements: While Modi addressed tens of thousands at a rally in Punjab, the crowds got to see him on giant TV screens also installed at the venue along with sound systems. Nearly 10,000 police personnel were deployed at the venue and on roads leading to it. All roads to the venue, spread over nearly 300 acres, were choked with vehicles and people wanting to reach the rally. Roads towards Jagraon from ludhiana and Moga were closed for regular traffic. Only vehicles with valid passes for the rally were allowed to ply on these highways. Other vehicles were diverted. The authorities had arranged buses and other modes of transport to ferry people for the rally.
Modi presented siropas (robe of honour) to all lok Sabha candidates of SAD, including sitting Bathinda MP Harsimrat Badal
‘MY Modi’ Mobile App launched by namo