Infusing fresh energy into the SAD-BJP combine’s election campaign in Punjab, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday lashed out at the Congress for “defaming” the State for political gains and also promised to give Punjab farmers Indus waters.
Referring to the politically-sensitive issue of Sutlej-Yamuna Canal, Modi said Punjab has the right to use water for irrigation. He also said that water from Indus River, which flows into Pakistan as waste, would be brought to Punjab.
“Farmers in Punjab should get more water. We have decided that Indus water, which goes to Pakistan, should be given to India,” he said.
Haryana and Punjab are locked in a bitter legal and emotional battle over the issue for the past several years.
In November too, Modi had made a similar statement in Bhatinda, saying, “That Indus water belongs to Indian farmers. We will do whatever we can to give enough water to our farmers.”
Mounting criticism on the Congress, Modi called the party a “sinking ship”, desperately looking for alliances in different States and urged the voters to teach them a lesson in the February 4 Assembly elections.
Hitting back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on the drugs issue, Modi said, “Some people are taking politics to a new low by tarnishing the image of the youth of Punjab…The pride of Punjabis has been tarnished by such statements and the Assembly polls in the State are the best way to reply to such remarks.”
Taking a dig at the Congress’ recently-sealed alliance with the Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, he said the party was “history” now and “it can do nothing.”
“After being dethroned by the people, the Congress is floundering and just forging alliances,” he said.
Modi said that the party was “like water and changes it shape to suit its political needs”.
“It is a strange party. It tied up with the left in West Bengal to survive in the State. Whatever they (left) gave (as seats), it accepted…In Uttar Pradesh, it attacked the Samajwadi Party in its yatras. Then it went for a pact…It saw an opportunity after a feud in the SP…,” Modi said.
Dubbing “political opportunism” as the Congress’ “forte”, he said that the country was witnessing the results of “politics of destruction” it had been subjected to in the last 70 years.
“Now, we have started politics of development,” he said.
Referring to Punjab as “the land of the brave”, Modi sought the people’s support to eradicate corruption from India. “The country has seen the politics of destruction for 70 years and the youth of this country is suffering due to it. If you want to do politics, do politics of development,” said Modi while challenging the Opposition parties to change the political discourse in the country.
Talking about his fight against corruption and the demonetisation move, Modi said, “I have been facing atrocities for the past three months…Modi hun. Zulm ke samne jhukta nahin (I am Modi. I do not bow before atrocities).”
He said that his drive against corruption was an apolitical affair aimed at ridding the country of black money. “But people who have amassed illegal wealth in the last 70 years are worried and are attacking me as they are still unable to digest the decision,” he said.
lauding Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, who is facing Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh and AAP’s Jarnail Singh, Modi said, “Parkash Singh Badal worked for Hindu-Sikh unity at a time when there was mistrust between the two communities…Badal worked hard for the people of Punjab and the State needs Badals to be in power again.”