Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the first virtual rally that he addressed for the coming Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, launched a sharp attack on the Samajwadi Party (SP) on the latter's record on law and order. He accused that party of allowing mafias and rioters to operate at will.
"Five years ago, 'dabang' [muscle men] and 'dangai' [rioters] were the law unto themselves. Whatever they said became the government order. Traders were looted and daughters could not come out of their homes in that period. The mafia used to roam freely under government patronage," he alleged.
Raising the issue of alleged exodus of a particular community and riots in the previous SP regime in west U.P., he stated, "the people of western U.P. can never forget that when this area was burning in the fire of riots, the previous government was celebrating. Five years ago, illegal occupation of house, land and shops of the poor, downtrodden, backward, was a symbol of socialism. There used to be news of exodus of people every day," he observed.
On law and order, he said that mafia and goons, who considered themselves to be bigger than the law, have been made to understand the meaning of the law under the BJP rule. "Today, whether it is the U.P.'s farmers, employees, traders or mothers, sisters and daughters, everyone is getting protection and respect. Seeing our 'kaam' [work] and their 'karname' [misdeeds], this time also the people of U.P. are going to give full blessings to the BJP," he asserted.
Reaches out to sugar cane farmers
Mr. Modi also reached out to the farmers of western U.P., especially the sugar cane belt, stating that his government's direct benefit transfer scheme had plugged leakages in payments due to farmers and on welfare programmes. "Understanding the problems of sugar cane farmers, we have also targeted to clear their dues at the earliest," he highlighted.
Attacking former Chief Minister and SP president Akhilesh Yadav, who allegedly avoided visiting Noida due to a superstition, he said, "Can those who hesitate in coming to Noida, a place for aspirations of youths, due to superstition represent dreams of youths." He also took on Mr. Yadav’s statements undermining the vaccination programme against COVID-19 when he termed it a “BJP vaccine”.
"Those who don't believe in the country's own COVID-19 vaccine and those who fuel rumours, can they respect the talent and innovation of the youth of U.P.?" he asked,
The virtual rally covered 21 Assembly seats in Baghpat, Shamli, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur districts.
