PM takes on Shaheen protesters in poll pitch
Says organisers violating spirit of same Constitution they claim to defend
NEW DELHI: In his first speech in the Delhi assembly election campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the Shaheen Bagh protests as an experiment by political rivals — particularly the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress — that was defying the Constitution and the judiciary, was divisive, an inconvenience to citizens of Delhi, who were silent but angry, and asked for votes for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to ensure that these “conspiracies” are brought to an end.
In a speech dominated by a strong defence of his government’s decisions on a range of issues, from national security to the economy, the Prime Minister said that a vote for the BJP would be a vote for a secure and prosperous Delhi; it would strengthen his hands at the Centre; and it would usher Delhi into the 21st century. Delhi, he said, could not be built with the “politics of hatred, but by the polity of national development”.
Modi focused on five key themes in his speech. He attacked political rivals on the question of nationalism. He defended his rapid pace of decision-making as an effort to tackle legacy issues. He said the budget, presented on Saturday, would benefit Delhi and its various demographic segments.
He argued that the government’s welfare schemes have not been able to reach the citizens of Delhi because of obstacles put forth by the AAP government. And he made a special appeal to Purvanchalis — people from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who have made Delhi their home.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the BJP was harping on Shaheen Bagh because it had no other issue to fight the election on, adding the job of the Delhi government was primarily to improve schools and hospitals.
The PM’S election speech came at a time when the contest in Delhi has intensified, with sharp exchanges between the BJP and the AAP. While AAP has focused on its governance record, particularly on health and education, the BJP had questioned AAP’S claims, and also sought to project the Shaheen Bagh protests as a key issue in what rivals allege is a ploy to “polarise” the electorate.
“There have been protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in Seelampur, Jamia and Shaheen Bagh. Are these protests a coincidence? No, this is an experiment. There is a political design behind it. If it was just against the law, the protests would have ended after the government’s assurance,” Modi said, adding that both the AAP and the Congress were playing political games.
“They keep the Constitution and the national flag in front, but this is to distract from the real agenda. The judiciary functions on the basis of the Constitution. The spirit of judicial decisions has been that protests should not inconvenience people, should not vandalise public property, should not cause destruction. But they don’t care about this.”
The protests, he claimed, caused great inconvenience and pain to commuters in Delhi. “Voters are silent, but they are angry at this vote bank politics. This mindset will have to be stopped. If the conspirators become strong, there will be other roads which will be blocked. Delhi has to fight this mindset. A vote for BJP will do this.”