Political campaign speech
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a sharp attack on Punjab’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party, accusing it of destroying the state, and said only the Bharatiya Janata Party could save the region, in a speech that effectively marked the start of the campaign season in the poll-bound province.
Modi began the day by launching India’s first indigenously developed hydrogen-powered passenger train from Jind to Sonipat, stressing that the government’s rapid railway electrification initiative has served to protect India from global energy disruptions in West Asia.
He then addressed a rally in Jind, where he asked Haryana to start identifying sporting talent in 10-15 year olds so that they can be prepared for the 2036 Olympic Games. In the afternoon, he spoke in Jalandhar and in the evening in Chandigarh, where he described the Union Territory as a model of planned development and quality of life.
Punjab is scheduled to go to the polls early next year.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating 75 redeveloped railway stations in 20 states under the Amrit Bharat Terminal Scheme, the Prime Minister said only the BJP and Modi can save Punjab and its people from the chaos created by the AAP, which he claimed has destroyed the state on every front, from law and order to drugs.
“Punjab is the land of Sher Punjab, Maharaja Ranjit Singh, but the Pakistani police betrayed the people of the state, stabbed them in the back and hid their failures with advertisements. Whatever is happening in Punjab is not a secret, as the law and order situation in Punjab has completely collapsed. Gangsters are the ones who take decisions as no one can predict when or where a gang war will break out. Industry and industrialists are being targeted for extortion. Gangs, police stations are being attacked with grenades and the youth of Punjab have been pushed around,” Modi said. “Into the swamp of drug addiction, and the future of the state’s youth has become bleak.”
“Only a dual drive by the BJP can bring Punjab back to the paths of development. The BJP has done this in Haryana and New Delhi, which have reached the pinnacle of development. We have provided 24-crop community support scheme to farmers in Haryana, while farmers feel cheated and cheated in Punjab,” he added.
“Serving the public requires sincere intentions and a spirit of integrity. However, the party currently in power in Punjab has neither. It is known as ‘Katar Biman Party’ (dishonest militant party).”
Modi said development in Punjab came to a halt after the RJD took over the state in 2022. He added that the Center had provided ample funds for roads, infrastructure, grain markets and modernization of other facilities, but successive governments, including the RJD, had plundered them.
“Punjab’s financial health is in complete stagnation, with ever-rising debts pushing the state into bankruptcy. The government has taken loan after loan to run its affairs, and has been paying huge interest… State employees are not getting their arrears; women are being cheated out of financial assistance from the government.” $Modi said: 1000.
Launching a fierce attack, Modi said the former APC health minister was sacked after corruption allegations, one minister was facing money laundering cases and several lawmakers were caught accepting money. Modi was referring to former Health Minister Vijay Singla and Minister Sanjeev Arora, who is jailed in a case related to the MLA.
“There are very few people in AAP who have a clean image. The party and its leaders have neither clear intentions nor an honest image…Punjab needs a government which should work with integrity, dedication and commitment and only BJP can do that for the welfare and betterment of Punjab,” Modi said.
“The BJP will make Punjab self-reliant and launch a new development agenda in the state, promoting new investments, generating employment and uplifting farmers,” he added.
A few days ago, a Gujarat court sentenced an RJD lawmaker to seven years in prison for assaulting government officials, and another leader was charged with killing an IB officer in New Delhi, Modi said.. He was alluding to the convictions of AAP’s MLA Chaitar Vasava in Gujarat and former Delhi councilor Tahir Hussain.
“The country is seeing their true face. Just two or three days ago, a court convicted one of their leaders in Delhi. He was convicted of inciting riots and killing an Intelligence Bureau officer,” Modi said.
He added: “The court issued its ruling based on the evidence, yet they are questioning the ruling. They are even trying to give a religious color to the court’s decision because of their vote bank politics.”
On Monday, Hussain was found guilty of killing Intelligence Bureau officer Ankit Sharma during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots, with a Delhi court also convicting him of kidnapping, promoting enmity between different religious groups and rioting using a deadly weapon in one of the most high-profile cases arising out of communal violence.
“Those who are currently in power in Punjab used to claim that they will change the politics of the country, but today, the nation is witnessing their true colours. Extortion and illegal occupation have all become trademarks of their political system. There are many people who are out on bail in many similar cases currently,” Modi said.
He also took shots at the Congress and the Akali Dal. “The Congress leaders are the least bothered about the interests of Punjab because they are fighting for their seats. Even the Akali Dal is in the same situation because they are too busy with their selfish interests and have nothing for the people of Punjab.
In Chandigarh, Modi launched and laid the foundation for development projects worth even more $4,700 crore in Chandigarh, to include healthcare, education and road infrastructure. Addressing a gathering at the Punjab Engineering College, Modi said the development of Chandigarh remains a priority for the NDA government and highlighted its role as a regional hub serving Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir.
Congress MP from Chandigarh Manish Tiwari shook hands with Modi and exchanged pleasantries briefly after the Prime Minister concluded his speech. The two interacted on stage for about two minutes, drawing attention. Asked about this interaction, Tiwari said that any initiative that benefits the people of Chandigarh is above party politics, and he will always support the development of his constituency.
(With inputs from Anisha Sareen Kumar in Chandigarh)
