Anti-India forces against me but I won't bend: PM Modi
MAHENDERGARH: On the last day of campaigning in Haryana, PM Modi on Thursday framed the Lok Sabha election as an exercise to pick a leader and determine the future of the country, telling people "abhi bahut kam karna baki hai (there's a lot more left to do)" and "bachche bachche ko pata hai kiski sarkar banegi" (even kids know who is forming the next govt).
"All anti-India forces are against me, but Modi will not bend ('Modi jhukega nahi')," the PM said Thursday. Haryana votes with Delhi on May 25 in the sixth phase.
Launching another attack on the INDIA bloc, he said Congress and its allies had "divided the country for the sake of vote bank politics and created two Muslim countries". "Now, these parties are saying Muslims have the first right over the India that remains," he said, adding they would snatch reservation from SC/STs and OBCs and give it to "those who do vote jihad".
Referring to the Calcutta high court order of Wednesday cancelling all OBC certificates issued by the West Bengal govt since 2010, he said it had revealed "INDI alliance's anti-reservation mentality against SCs/STs, OBCs".
Modi watchman for rights of deprived: PM
The PM has repeatedly attacked opposition on reservation after INDIA bloc called the ongoing elections a battle to save the Constitution. "Jo reservation OBC ko milna chahiye, woh Musalman aur ghuspethiyon mein baanta ja raha hai (reservation for OBCs is being given to Muslims and infiltrators)," Modi said.
To drive home his point and rally support from the crowd, Modi said while "INDI alliance is standing with its vote bank, who is standing with you?" As the crowd responded with "Modi", he said as long as he is alive, "no one can take reservation of SC/STs and OBC". "Vanchiton ka jo adhikar hai, Modi uska chowkidar hai. Ye chunavi bhashan nahi hai, ye Modi ki guarantee hai (Modi is the watchman for the rights of the deprived. This is not an election speech, this is Modi's guarantee)," he said.
Recounting his days spent in Haryana in the '90s as state in-charge of the party and how he enjoyed local food and culture, he said people greet each other by saying 'Ram Ram' in the state. "If Congress has its way, it will arrest people who even mention Ram," Modi said as he accused the party of opposing the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
"Congress disrespects our faith and our Tricolour. Under the guise of Article 370, Congress kept Kashmir separated from the nation, not allowing the Tricolour to be unfurled in Kashmir for 70 years. Now, they talk about reinstating Article 370 if they come back to power," he said.
Congress, he said, had also betrayed ex-servicemen by depriving them of the 'One Rank, One Pension' scheme. "I have witnessed firsthand the state of Haryana during Congress rule. Every CM focused solely on their own district. Corruption was rampant across the state, with land being sold under the guise of job opportunities," Modi said.
Underlining that these elections are about picking the PM, he said on one side is "your tried and tested sewak" and on the other side, "kaun hai pata hi nahin". Saying opposition bloc is "daydreaming" of getting the mandate, he said, "INDI alliance is talking about rotating the PM chair and one leader will become PM for one year. Panch saal main paanch PM. Kya ye kaam karega (Five PMs in five years. Will this work)," he asked.
Meanwhile, Modi's rally in Patiala was held amid tension as police barricades stopped farmers planning to protest against the PM by showing black flags. Farmers managed to stop Faridkot BJP candidate Hans Raj Hans, who was en route Patiala. "We gheraoed Hans Raj, who apologised to farmers for his threatening words during his campaign," said Kaka Singh Kotda of BKU Ekta Sidhupur. Police halted some farmers near Baran village on Sirhind road, and BKU Ekta Sidhupur protesters near Passiana.
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