BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday launched a fierce offensive against his rivals in Uttar Pradesh by questioning their brand of secularism, offering his party’s version of it, and flaunting his record of riot-free Gujarat during the last one decade.
Asserting that BJP’s tsunami will uproot the Samajwadi Party, BSP and Congress, Modi said that so-called secular parties use Muslims as “vote ka tukda” and keep them deprived of the benefits of development.
“In the name of secularism, the political parties use Muslims as a vote bank to gain power. BJP’s secularism is country first. While others believe in divide and rule, we use secularism to join people. For them, it is an election slogan, for us it is an article of faith,” Modi said.
Claiming that his rivals are afraid of the BJP wave sweeping across the nation, Modi said, “With the declaration of election, this wave will transform into tsunami that will sweep away all political opponents.”
He was addressing a mammoth Vijay Shankhnaad rally at Ramabai Ambedkar ground with a capacity of 5 lakh. In the past, only the BSP has held rallies there. The ground on Sunday was filled to capacity giving a clear indication of the massive mobilisation work that preceded the rally.
“The BJP is a party that honours human values. I am a backward who sold tea in my childhood, and now the party has made me its PM candidate. I will be your chowkidar in New Delhi who would not allow anyone to lay his ‘hand’ on the treasure chest of the people,” Modi said.
Taking a dig at Mulayam Singh Yadav, who addressed a rally in Allahabad barely an hour before.
Modi pointed out that Mulayam has said that he (Modi) should not compete on the subject of the size of crowds at a rally. “This means Netaji has already admitted defeat,” Modi said as the crowd cheered in acceptance.
When a section of crowd started chanting Modi, Modi -- he stopped for a moment and said, “Netaji, said we should talk about development and I like this idea. But Netaji, stop spreading lies about Gujarat.”
Then in his inimitable style, he asked people: “Do you get electricityIJ” After a roar of “no”, he said, “In Gujarat all villages are electrified and they get power 24x7 while there is reservation in electric supply in UP.”
Slamming SP’s track record on secularism, Modi said in the last one year over 150 riots took place in UP while in Gujarat not a single riot occurred in the last 10 years. “Over 20,000 cases of women atrocities were registered in UP in one year, and Netaji is asking us to compare with Gujarat.”
Modi said if the UP Government wanted, it could have sold in international market its local products like silk sari of Benares, the carpet of Mirzapur, the leather of Kanpur, the locks of Aligarh, the shoes of Agra, the brassware of Moradabad and perfume of Kannauj. “But the Samajwadi Party Government is so engrossed in its vote-bank politics that it never spared a thought about these,” he said.
To buttress his point as how innovative ideas can change the lives of people, Modi gave an example of the kite-manufacturing industry of Gujarat, a traditional occupation of poor Muslim artisans. “It was a Rs 35-crore industry when I took charge. We have breathed life into this kite industry and now it is a Rs 500-crore industry,” he said.
Modi said that it was UP’s bad luck that the State’s leaders who became Ministers in the Central Government used their influence in minting money. “Ek mantra to koyla kha gaye,” he said without naming Sriprakash Jaiswal. And there is another Minister who travels around the world but cheats preferentially-abled persons,” he said without naming Salman Khurshid who had called him “impotent”.
Khurshid has faced allegation that a NGO run by him has siphoned off fund meant for preferentially-abled persons.
Recalling former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who represented lucknow, Modi said, “Atalji used to say road to Delhi passes through lucknow. But this undeveloped UP cannot make India strong. If you want to see strong India, first make UP strong.”
Top loud cheer of the crowd, Modi also recited a poem sent to him by a supporter. Gripped with Modi euphoria, entire lucknow was painted in a saffron hue. The 12-km road from party’s headquarters at Vidhan Sabha Marg to the rally ground was dotted with hoardings and banners. Over 350 such hoardings and 1,500 small hoardings and banners were put up across the State capital. The party also distributed 3 lakh T-shirts and 5 lakh caps with Modi photos. Besides, 50 lED screens were installed at different places to ensure people could hear Modi’s speech without any hindrance.
Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh joined BJP officially on this occasion.