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Lok Sabha elections 2019: PM plays up Pak, surgical strikes in Araria
Modi was here to seek support for Pradeep Kumar, the lone BJP nominee in entire Seemanchal and Kosi which together have six seats.
On his first visit to Seemanchal after becoming the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi on Saturday played up national security and accused the Congress and Grand Alliance of speaking the language of forces involved in working for disintegration of nation.
Modi, who began and ended his speech in Maithili at the election rally held at Forebesganj, said the previous UPA government did not allow the army a free hand in dealing with terrorists. “But NDA government has provided full liberty to jawans to deal with the terrorists,” he said.
Modi was here to seek support for Pradeep Kumar, the lone BJP nominee in entire Seemanchal and Kosi which together have six seats.
Pleased by the turnout, Modi said, “After the overwhelming response in West Bengal, Araria people have stamped NDA’s advantage. The mood of the nation, after two phases of polls, is clear,” he said.
Chief minister Nitish Kumar, LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan and deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi were also present.
Referring to the surgical strike and recent air strikes in the aftermath of Pulwama, Modi reminded the people of the 26/11 attack during Congress rule, which he said failed to evoke retaliatory action.
“Today, we have not only taken revenge but also isolated Pakistan internationally,” he said.
Describing the opposition alliance as ‘mahamilawati’, PM dared them to acknowledge the retaliatory action against Pakistan. “India has become much stronger after Pulwama terror attack,” he pointed.
Taking a dig at the “misinformation” campaign being spread by the Opposition that the NDA government would revisit reservation once it returns to power for a second term, Modi said, “No power can ever snatch reservation provided by Baba Sahab Ambedkar.”
“In fact, my government has strengthened the concept of quota by extending 10% reservation to economically weaker sections of the general category,” he said, while highlighting social security and welfare schemes like Ayushman Bharat, Ujjawala, housing for all by 2022 and ₹6,000 per year assistance scheme for small farmers. “The farmer assistance scheme will be extended to all farmers once the NDA returns to power,” he promised.
Speaking about the Araria-Supaul-Galgalia railway line and boarder road, he said these schemes had either been completed or were on the verge of completion. “Opposition leaders are dividing people on caste lines for vote politics. But we are engaged in nation building with our ‘desh bhakti’ brand of politics,” he said.
Prime minister was all praise for the Bihar government for its pro-development orientation. “Under Nitish Kumar’s stewardship, the state is making rapid progress,” he said and urged the people to ensure the victory of BJP nominee for Araria and JD-U candidates for Supaul and Madhepura with a huge margin.
Interestingly, almost at the same time, Congress president Rahul Gandhi was addressing an election rally in the neighbouring Supaul district, urging the people to vote in favour of party nominee Ranjeet Ranjan and Grand Allaince nominees in neighbouring Lok Sabha constituencies. Nitish Kumar showered praise on Modi’s leadership, saying, “India is progressing on all fronts, a fact being acknowledged by world leaders. The presence of people in huge numbers was suggestive that Modi was riding a wave of support and he is going to continue.”
He also mentioned various development schemes of the state government that were well supported by the Central government. Ram Vilas Paswan also spoke on the occasion.
Araria, Supaul and Madhepura are going to poll on April 23.
