Invoking security threats from Pakistan and listing out NDA Government’s initiatives to benefit farmers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people of Punjab to vote for the SAD-BJP alliance in the February 4 elections to establish a strong Government in the Sate and teach a lesson to “outsiders” and those “who have aristocratic lifestyle”.
Addressing a poll rally in the Malwa heartland, the Prime Minister said a stable, capable and reliable Government is necessary in Punjab for the security of the country.
“Punjab is a border State. Pakistan is eagerly looking for opportunities to use Punjab to destabilise the entire country. If a weak Government or a Government of outsiders or a Government of those indulging in luxuries comes, it is not only the people of Punjab who will suffer, but the entire nation will have to face a crisis,” Modi said.
“When you elect the Government in Punjab, you decide not only the fate of Punjab, but that of the country is also linked with it,” he added.
In a veiled attack on the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Modi said, “Don’t rely on those having aristocratic lifestyle and outsiders for the State and country’s security…We have to ensure that we have a strong Government. You have to ensure that you vote properly.”
Making a scathing attack on the Opposition parties for defaming Punjab and Punjabis, Modi said it was the Congress that defamed Sikhs in 1980s and called them terrorists and now it was the AAP which was calling the youth of the State “drug addicts”.
“Congress labelled youth of Punjab as terrorists. Few others are calling them drug addicts. That cannot be accepted,” he said.
Calling the AAP an “outsider” that is “dreaming of creating its own world” at the cost of Punjab, Modi asked the voters to send the party back from where it had come.
“In this election, to destroy Punjab, it (AAP) is eager to create its own world at the cost of the State. Those who are having such dreams should be sent back to Delhi from where they have come,” he said, apparently hitting out at the new entrant AAP in the State.
He also asked the people to first question AAP as to what it promised and the responsibilities it honoured in Delhi. “Ask it to first fulfill its responsibility of that place (from where they have been elected). Fulfill the promises made to the people of Delhi,” he said.
Targeting the AAP and the Congress for their “foul language”, Modi said that his party never indulged in bad mouthing of political opponents. “We have fought against the Congress. We used to say we will hold an enquiry and accused will be brought under the ambit of law...and we never say we will send this or that person to jail,” he said.
“When such bad words are used and are being uttered against Badal, pain is natural,” said Modi, asking Harsimrat and her husband Sukhbir Badal to not have high expectations from “such people”.
He said that in his political life he had held two leaders, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Parkash Singh Badal, in high regard as they never talked ill of anyone.
“We should learn from these leaders how to conduct in public life. We have also fought against the Congress. But we do not talk saying that we will send so and so to jail,” he said.
“The nation has given us the power to uphold the law of the land. But today the kind of language is being used...They wanted to send (former Delhi CM) Sheila Dikshit to the jail but now Dikshit has been named the CM candidate for UP,” he said.
Apparently targeting Kejriwal, Modi said, “But this is the (foul) language of a dictator...does a democracy run like thisIJ”
“There could be dispute between political parties and if the principle of democracy is broken, then country will face harm,” he said.
Modi added, “What matters most for Badal Sahab is welfare of Punjab, its farmers and the people.
listing out the initiatives taken by his Government to benefit farmers, including Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, crop insurance scheme, Modi said that his dream was to double their income by the year 2022.
Sharing BJP’s plans for the development of the State, Modi said, “We want our farmers to prosper. So, we have initiated several measures. We have brought Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana for them…An ethanol production plant will also be set up soon in the State.”
“Under Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, each field would get water…Our Government has launched programmes under which lakhs of hectares of land would get water,” he said.
Modi pointed that Punjab’s canal river water system had now become old, with water not reaching the tail-end. Asking farmers to efficiently utilise water, he said that per drop, more crop should be the way forward.
Modi said that a common market system had been launched whereby farmers could sell their crop wherever they are fetching good rates through mobile phone.
He said that his Government was looking to modernise farming by bringing in new technology to boost output and create more employment opportunities.
Referring to the incidents of desecration of the Sikh religious text, the Guru Granth Sahib, the Prime Minister said that the enquiry into the matter has been handed over to the central probe agency.
“CBI will probe this matter thoroughly and I do not say I will send them to jail. I say CBI will find out the culprits and the judicial system will do justice. Everything is run by law,” he said.
Concluding his address in chaste Punjabi, Modi asked the people to come out in large numbers on February 4 and vote in favour of the SAD-BJP alliance by pressing the button of takri (scales symbol of SAD) and lotus (symbol of BJP).
Making a comment on Kejriwal for nurturing ambition of becoming Punjab Chief Minister, Bathinda MP and Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said that only a person with dastar can become Punjab Chief Minister, “not one wearing topi”.
SAD president Sukhbir Badal called Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh a hankari (arrogant)raja. “You can make this raja a beggar by not casting vote to Congress,” said Sukhbir while seeking votes at Kotakpura election rally.