In the mofussil town in eastern UP which is known as “Gateway to hell”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi used teachings and couplets of Sant Kabir to attack opposition parties for their greed to grab power and blamed them for creating instability in the country. He also wooed dalits and the backwards saying his government was forging ahead on the teachings of Saint Kabir.
The rally could be seen beginning of Modi’s 2019 lok sabha campaign as he said that Kabir fought to break the caste barriers and asked BJP workers to reach out to every person irrespective of caste and creed projecting party’s image of a ‘nationalist Hindutva’ party. The PM during his address after paying tribute to Kabir and laying the foundation of the Kabir academy in Maghar, which Kabir said Gateway to Hell” here on Thursday said: “Those who imposed Emergency are trying to form alliances.” He said two days ago 43rd anniversary of Emergency was observed. It is the greed for power that forced some parties to impose emergency and those who opposed Emergency have come together today. They don’t see the welfare of society but only the welfare of themselves and their families. “Some political parties do not want peace and harmony in society. Such people are cut off from ground realities. They want chaos and want to create doubt and fear in the minds of people. They think that by doing so, they will gain politically. But those parties are completely cut-off from the reality on the ground,” he said.
Modi further said: “There are some parties who do not want peace and development. They think if there will be unrest, they will gain politically. Such people are cut off from their roots.”
Hitting out at the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) PM said that some leaders were more keen to retain their bungalows. Instead of understanding Kabir and following his message of love and care, the minds of leaders today are occupied by materialistic thoughts of bungalows.” “Those who talk of Samajwad and Bahujan are only concerned about how to wrest power. They will lie and even harm the well being of people just to come to power,” he said.
He even blamed opposition parties for opposing triple talaq law.”You know who are trying to block our efforts to ban Triple Talaq. We have done a lot for poor. But there are forces who are throwing spanner in our work. These people do not want to see society prosper,” he said. Modi also quoted Kabir couplet — ‘Kabir khada bazaar mein, maang raha khair, na kahe sae dosti, na keh sake bair saying this can be interpreted as BJP’s philosophy of “sabka saath, sabka vikaas”.
Modi said that late former President APJ Abdul Kalam also visited Maghar 15 years back and expressed his concern about neglect of its development.” But now we have made a commitment to develop it as a symbol of humanity,” he said.
PM also recounted achievement of his government quoting Ujjawala scheme, Aayushman Bharat Scheme, Jan Dhan yojana and constructing toilets for the poor. He also recited the Kabir’s couplet ,”Kaal kare, so aaj kar’ saying what this government has done in four years no one had done in 40 years. Union Tourism and culture minister Dr Mahesh Sharma said that India would showcase the rich culture of humanity of Sant Kabir and would develop the area to bring it in the international tourism map. “Though opposition do not spare the government but they should also be thankful that this government has promoted the great people of the country and has propagated their teachings and verses,” he said
Earlier, he visited the Sant Kabir cave and unveiled a plaque to mark the laying of foundation stone of the Kabir Academy. Prime Minister also offered a ‘chadar’ at the Samadhisthal and then at the ‘mazaar’ of Kabir.
“This Academy will have all facilities like library and classes to accommodate all studies on Kabir,” PM said.