Exile of progress must end in UP: Modi

LEADING CHARGE Calling SPCongress alliance a ‘sinking ship’, PM says only BJP can bring development in state

Prime Minister Narendra Modi blamed non-BJP governments in Uttar Pradesh for the state’s lack of progress, saying on Sunday the “vanvaas” or exile of development must end and his party would ensure that if voted to power.

The BJP has been out of power in the state since March 2002. “Vanvaas of vikas in UP must end now. Country is moving ahead at a fast pace and so must UP,” said Modi in Fatehpur.

He took a jibe at the SP-Congress alliance, dubbing it as a pact between two sinking ships. “Both (SP and Congress) were sinking so they thought of holding each other’s hands,” he said.

Modi laced his speech with trademark barbs on his rivals. He referred to the Rahul GandhiAkhilesh Yadav first joint road show in Lucknow when the Congress leader atop the campaign bus was seen bending to dodge dangling overhead power cables.

“Akhilesh knew they were mere wires dangling low and have no electricity running in them but his alliance partner was scared,” he said, trying to make the point about the state’s inconsistent power supply. He, however, reserved his remarks on the BSP and its president Mayawati.

The Prime Minister also brought a bit of Hindutva in his speech, accusing the SP of being biased on religious lines. “If you create a kabristaan (graveyard) in a village, then a shamshaan (cremation ground) should be created too; if electricity is supplied during Ramzan, then the same should be the case during Diwali,” he said.

Agencies quoted Congress leader Anand Sharma demanding the EC to take note of the PM’s speech. “EC should take note of PM’s statement (kabristan & electricity remarks), this is a clear violation of their directions,” he was quoted.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the ongoing three-month long economic blockade in pollbound Manipur could be the result of a “political conspiracy” by the ruling Congress.

“No solution has been found so far (to end the blockade) even after the central government suggested holding dialogue to sort out the problem.Centre even provided adequate security forces.But I don’t know why the blockade continues ,” Rajnath said after releasing BJP’s Manipur Vision document in Imphal.

The former BJP president also dismissed the allegation that the August 2015 agreement between Centre and NSCN (IM) might affect Manipur’s territorial integrity.

“The territorial integrity of Manipur will not be affected at any cost. There was not even a mention of Manipur in the agreement,” he said.

The two-phase elections in Manipur for 60 assembly constituencies will take place on March 4 and 8. HTC