The Congress was in power when the Mumbai attacks took place but questioned the BJP government’s surgical strikes in Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Monday, hitting out at the Opposition party on the issues of terrorism and Naxalism.
The Prime Minister was addressing an election rally here on the tenth anniversary of the 26/11 terror strike when 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai, killing 166 people over 60 hours. He also addressed rallies in Kota and Beneshwar Dham.
He also spoke about the development work done by the BJP and even a month would not be enough to give an account of work done by BJP governments at the Centre and state.
“Will never forget 26/11”
In a broadside against former Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, he said New Delhi, during the 26/11 attacks, was being governed by “madam” through remote control.
“I remember the slightest criticism over the attacks used to rile the then ruling party,” Mr. Modi told the gathering in this textile city ahead of elections in the state on December 7.
The Congress, he added, taught the lesson of patriotism. But when the Army carried out a surgical strike by crossing over the border, the party questioned it and asked for video proof.
The soldiers have their lives in hands and not a camera, Modi said.
India, he said, will never forget the 26/11 terror attack or its perpetrators.
“Justice will surely be done, I want to assure the country,” he added while expressing solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives. “A grateful nation bows to our brave police and security forces who valiantly fought the terrorists during the Mumbai attacks,” Mr. Modi said.
The Prime Minister said his government had responded to terrorists and Naxals in their own language.
Claiming that terror strikes had come down under BJP rule, Mr. Modi said terrorists now find it difficult to go beyond Kashmir. On the one hand, there is terrorism and, on the other, Maoism and Naxalism. They are giving guns in the hands of children and killing innocent people but Congress leaders and close aides of ‘naamdaar’ are calling Naxals revolutionaries and giving them certificates, he said.
“BJP stopped the loot”
At a rally in Kota, PM Modi the BJP had stopped the “loot” that was being carried out under the Congress rule and “people sitting in AC rooms in New Delhi” were trying to devise strategies to oust the party.
He said one vote doesn’t enthrone a political party or an individual but it gives power to change the country and shape its future.
Mr. Modi said people sitting in AC rooms in New Delhi were trying to devise strategies to oust the BJP from power, but they should come to Rajasthan’s Kota town and see the ground situation instead.
He claimed an army of thieves had siphoned off ₹90,000 crore to claim pension, scholarship and LPG subsidy by fudging information in government records, but one vote given to the BJP government at the Centre put a stop to such dubious beneficiaries.
“₹ 90,000 crore theft was stopped, broadband network reached 1 lakh villages, 2.5 to 3 lakh km optical fibre line was laid, 12 crore LPG connections were given in four years of the BJP government at the Centre.
“Your one vote has given speed to the country. It has the power to change the country and shape its future,” Modi said.
He alleged that while it was in power, the Congress kept devising new ways to loot money.
“We stopped the work of looters, who siphoned-off money, with your one vote that formed the BJP government. Such people are criticising Modi today,” he said.
The prime minister urged the people to vote for the BJP in Rajasthan to maintain the speed of development.
Workaholic
Mr. Modi also attacked the Congress for its alleged casteist remarks and said issues relating to the people do not bother the party. “As the elections are approaching, Congress asks for my caste and are curious about my father,” he said.
When the Indian prime minister visits America and meets the president, they talk about welfare, Mr. Modi said.
“Does the president ask him his caste before any discussion? The prime minister represents the caste of 125 crore people of India, he said.
Mr. Modi also said he was nothing but a workaholic. “I am a workaholic (kaamdaar) who has 125 crore people of the country standing behind him... Have you ever heard that I took a holiday? Have you ever heard that I went somewhere for leisure or was missing for a week? I give an account of each and every decision I take and the work that I do,” he said.
Braving threats, people in Jammu and Chhattisgarh came out to vote in large numbers with voting percentages remaining 70-75%, Mr. Modi added.
While people in Chhattisgarh voted for a new assembly earlier this month, panchayat elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir.
On the occasion of Constitution Day on Monday, Mr. Modi recalled the stellar contribution of B.R. Ambedkar. We are proud of our Constitution and reiterate our commitment to uphold the values enshrined in it, he said.
BJP’s work
Mr. Modi said even a month would not be enough to give an account of work done by BJP governments at the Centre and state. Before the BJP came to power in 2014, even 40% villages did not have toilets, he claimed. However, in four years, 95% villages have toilets, he said.
“This is called work... They will not give an account of work done but will continue to ask about caste,” he said.
In 2014, only 50% people of the country had bank accounts and 55% LPG connections in 2014. Now, every India has his bank account and 90% families have LPG connection. he said.
The prime minister also spoke about developmental works by Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
He said 36,000 km of new roads were constructed in last five years and 50 lakh young entrepreneurs in Rajasthan received loans under Mudra Scheme.
Published - November 26, 2018 07:58 pm IST
