Hours after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) released its manifesto for the February 7 Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blitzkrieg against it. Modi, in his first election rally for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) since polls were announced in the National Capital, made a veiled attack on the fledgling party and its convener Arvind Kejriwal by equating them to a “clever autorickshaw driver” who would fool people by promising them a free ride. Addressing a packed audience in Shahdara’s CBD Ground, he also mocked AAP’s debacle in the lok Sabha polls by saying the party created a “world record with the highest number of candidates forfeiting deposits across the country.”
The crowd roared in excitement as he took a jibe at the AAP by saying, “There was an autorickshaw driver who had put up a board on his auto which read ‘sit in the auto for free’. It attracted a lot of customers, but after the trip the auto driver asked for money. When the customers questioned him, the driver would say, ‘sitting in the auto is free but you have to pay to deboard’.”
Turn to Page 4As thousands of supporters thronged the venue to listen to the Prime Minister, Modi appealed them to give AAP a befitting punishment which built political instability in Delhi in the last one year and make up for the loss by voting on the “lotus” symbol. “In the 2013 Assembly polls, you gave us the maximum number of seats, but that was not enough. Voting for a party which shattered your dreams was a mistake and you corrected the mistake by making all our seven MPs win in the lok Sabha polls. The people of Delhi should not repeat the same mistake again,” he said.
He gave it back to the rival AAP by saying it only makes “tall promises” while the BJP with its Government at the Centre was an example of “concrete policies”. Modi, however, did not make any announcement for Delhiites as he weaved his 35-minute speech around issues like water, corruption, economic provisions, Yamuna cleaning and in-situ development for slum dwellers. He listed out that the new BJP Government in Haryana resolved the Munak Canal issue while citing its “commitment” to curb corruption. He mentioned about the Jan Dhan Yojna because of which the amount for gas subsidy directly reaches the poor. He also promised to clean up Yamuna River and beautify its surroundings.
Referring to the criticism over BJP leaders raising the successful visit of US President Barack Obama in Delhi poll campaign, he said had his Government made any mistake during the visit the same Opposition parties would have flayed him and made it an election issue. “Had Obama gone after merely attending the Republic Day parade and done nothing else, our opponents would have gone to town raising the issue in the polls,” he said.
Calling Delhi the face of India, he said this election would decide how the country is seen at the global stage. “There is no better place than Delhi for India’s identity.” Trying to woo the poor and the lower strata of the society, who are seen as backbone of AAP’s support base, he said his Government has already launched a war on corruption and promised in-situ development of slums. “My Government is for the poor. My plan is to replace all slums with concrete houses by 2022 when India celebrates its 75th year of Independence and I want to start it from Delhi.”
Modi also complimented Kiran Bedi, whose anointment as the party’s chief ministerial candidate ruffled feathers in Delhi BJP, for her administrative abilities. “She knows Delhi inside out. She has administrative experience and is well versed with the history and geography of Delhi. She is a woman with strong determination. She will take Delhi to new heights,” the Prime Minister said.
There were gasps in awe as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s chopper flew over thousands of enthusiastic supporters at Shahdara’s CBD ground on Saturday. Wearing saffron caps and BJP’s scarf, the chant from the ground was mostly “Modi” “Modi”, even as BJP’s chief ministerial nominee Kiran Bedi was seated on the stage, equally excited with the ongoing scene. People came from around 17 constituencies in the trans-Yamuna region and it was a full house by the time the star campaigner “Modi” arrived at the stage.
As the audience cheered with the one-liners of the Prime Minister, the culmination of his speech stirred a spirit to make their party victorious was seen in many. Bansilal Kishore who came from Karawal Nagar constituency said, “At any cost we need to give a learning lesson to AK-49 (referring to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal). Delhi needs Kiran ji and not liars.”