Allahabad: Addressing 'parivartan' rally here after the two-day national executive session of the BJP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Samajwadi Party for casteism, communalism, nepotism and hooliganism in Uttar Pradesh and asked people to give his party one chance.
He began his speech with introduction of the galaxy of leaders sitting on the stage, including union ministers and BJP chief ministers, and said, "This stage tells you the influence of UP on this government. So many top leaders in the government are from this state."
Veteran BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, party chief Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister ShivrajSingh Chouhan and Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje were among those present.
"After thirty years, India has got a government with full majority. The credit goes to the state of Uttar Pradesh. This state has always come forward to save the country. UP also needs Assam like change," he said.
"The growing impact of India at world stage is not because of me but because of 1.25 crore people of India," he asserted.
Appealing to the people for an opportunity to rule the state, he invoked the greatness of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati and said the land of Prayag will mark a new beginning by taking to development.
"BJP has begun a 'yagya' of development. Development will gain momentum only when seeds of communalism, dynasty rule, corruption are removed. Uttar Pradesh is facing problems due to nepotism, casteism, growing criminal activities and a 'vikas yagya' will remove these evils. The hardships that our elders had to face, we don't want the youth of today to face," the PM said.
The Prime Minister referred to employment for youth and talked about doing away with interviews for lower-level jobs, saying that it was the den of corruption.
"We decided on abolition of interviews for Class III and Class IV. I have also told state governments to do away with interviews but I know the condition of state in UP. God has given all states some kind of strengths. But those states progress where the government have the will power but there are some states which only do politics," he said, adding, "In UP there is a kind of contract. When BSP was in power, the Samajwadi Party used to attack it. But did anything happen? Now Mayawati has been attacking the SP government but nothing will happen if there is a change of power. They have a contract to loot the state for five years in rotation. This is their jugalbandi (duet)."
Urging the people to give the BJP a chance, PM Modi said, "Give us one chance, if do not perform, then kick us out. We cannot let UP be destroyed. We have to save the state from nepotism and corruption. If UP progresses, no one can stop India from being number one in the world."
The PM pointed out that wherever BJP was elected they had performed. He cited the names of various states like Gujarat, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Chhatisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
In an obvious reference to alleged cases of corruption during the UPA regime, PM Modi said that even a small house takes a week to clean.
"I was cleaning up the entire country. What all was lying here. The cleaning up job raked up so much dust that people could not see our good work," he said.
He went on to say that after two years of rule, various media surveys have given the government a thumbs up and he has secured a 'first class' in his examinations due to the people.
"Some states gave me distinction and your state is one of them," he said.
In yet another veiled reference to the alleged 'policy paralysis' during the UPA regime, PM Modi said "who says work can't be done. If you have public good in mind, things can be achieved. We have got work done."
Listing out the achievements of his government, he said urea was now freely available to people due to good production.
The Prime Minister said 1,529 villages of Uttar Pradresh are living in "darkness of 18th century".
"But I took it upon myself to ensure that people get power. Today, 1352 villages have been provided with electricity and only 177 are remaining," he said.
"I urge you to move on the path of development and rid the country of corruption. I will never forget the love that you have shown me," PM Modi added.
The PM signed off in his trademark style of 'bharat mata ki jai'.
Later, PM Modi tweeted saying, "Unforgettable energy and enthusiasm at the rally in Allahabad."
Unforgettable energy & enthusiasm at the rally in Allahabad. My gratitude to all Karyakartas & those who joined us. pic.twitter.com/9CmaVdj6M9
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 13, 2016
Earlier today, delivering his concluding address to the party's national executive, which saw its president Amit Shah raising concerns over migration of Hindus from a communally-sensitive western UP town, PM Modi made no reference to the controversial issues and instead asked leaders to use power for the benefit of society.
He also invoked Maratha icon Shivaji, saying he did not enjoy the fruits of power despite being a ruler and sarcastically added that the country has on the contrary also seen those who enjoyed the fruits of power without legitimately owning it, a veiled dig at the Gandhi family of the Congress, as per PTI.
Afterwards, briefing reporters about PM Modi's speech, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the Prime Minister also laid down seven mantras for party workers to follow in their conduct and policy.
"Sevabhaav, Santulan, Sanyam, Samnway, Sakaratmak, Sadbhavana and Samvad (Service, balance, restraint, coordination, positivity, empathy and dialogue) - The PM stressed to the workers that all these seven traits should be reflected in their conduct and policy," Jaitley said.
He had earlier used the word 'sadbhavna' (harmony) but later clarified that it was 'samvedna' (empathy).
"To sum up, the message from the national executive is that when the party's political power has grown, this power has to be used for the society," Jaitley said.
Two-day BJP's national executive meet began yesterday with PM Modi and Advani lighting the lamp to inaugurate the event.
(With Agency inputs)
