At Phagwara rally, BJP leaders invoke nationalism

HIGHLIGHTING MODI’S DECISIVE ACTION ON TERROR CAMPS IN PAKISTAN, STATE PARTY CHIEF CALLS CONGRESS ANTI-NATIONAL PARTY

PHAGWARA: At a time when the opposition is trying to corner the Modi government on development and Rafale jet deal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to encash nationalism and national security issues at its first state-level rally since the announcement of election dates, in Phagwara on Sunday.

Organised by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM ), the rally saw all senior leaders, including state BJP president Shwait Malik, minister of state for social justice and empowerment Vijay Sampla and Phagwara MLA Som Parkash, addressing the public in saffron turbans.

The leaders weaved their speeches around national security and nationalism, besides projecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the only saviour of the country. “If anyone can protect our country and give a befitting reply to Pakistan for spreading terror, Modi is the only option. The Indian Air Force pilot Abhinandan Varthaman was released by Pakistan in 48 hours due to the sincere efforts of PM Modi,” said Captain Abhimanyu, who is the in-charge of Lok Sabha election in Punjab.

Highlighting Modi’s decisive action against the terror camps in Pakistan after the Pulwama attack, Shwait Malik took on the Congress, calling it an anti-national party, listing the party’s failures when it was in power. “Lance Naik Hemraj was decapitated by the Pakistani army when the Congress was in power. The Congress was in power when the 26/11 Mumbai attacks took place. Now, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Rahul Gandhi are raising a question mark on the IAF air strikes on terror camps just to impress Pakistan,” the state party chief said.

“Youths like Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Singh, Raj Guru and Udham Singh fought for the country and we are following their path. There is BJP, which is giving its best to protect the country and then there is anti-national Congress. The electors keep in mind while going to cast the vote,” said Malik.

National secretary of the BJYM, Abhijit Mishra, called the minister Navjot Singh Sidhu a traitor for “supporting Pakistan”.

“I feel embarrassed sometimes that a traitor like Sidhu was once a part of the BJP,” Mishra said.

Union minister Vijay Sampla also voiced the national security card, and development was missing in his speech.