Modi seeks to build on ‘aam aadmi’ image, energise cadre
MISSION 2019 Pundits interpret rally’s pitch as a move to convey that while oppn is power hungry, Modi is working for masses
SHAHJAHANPUR: : A day after winning the trust vote in Parliament, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose UP’s biggest grain market to seek approval for his government’s initiatives, even as he continued to build on his ‘aam aadmi’ image to set up an instant connect with the masses ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Modi also used his Shahjahanpur rally to charge up the party cadre in Uttar Pradesh who, after a series of bypoll losses, is worried about the likely impact of arch rivals Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party teaming up with the Congress against the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
“Chahe cycle ho ya haathi, koi bhi ho saathi ... janata swarth ke iss swaang ko samajh chuki hai ... (whether it’s the Samajwadi Party or the BSP, irrespective of whom the Congress ties up with ... people have seen through the game of selfishness),” Modi said.
Throughout his 45-minute address, Modi said the Congressled opposition was driven by a desire to force Modi out of power.
The party pitched in, with chief minister Yogi Adityanath hailing Modi as ‘vikas purush’ (development man) and UP minister Suresh Khanna describing him as a ‘chamatkari neta (magical leader).’
With the party working around his plan, Modi went about connecting with the masses.
“I told them that the people’s verdict is supreme in a democracy. But they are driven by their passion to remove Modi. What is Modi? It’s actually the power of 125 crore people ...,” he said.
Political analysts described the pitch as an attempt to convey that his government had now emerged stronger from the no trust vote as it had fresh approval from the Lok Sabha and the common man too; a line that the BJP would play up till the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Experts believe Modi’s pitch is carefully tailored to convey to the masses that while the opposition is power hungry, he is actually the one working for the masses.
His address was full of the common man’s needs and his government’s drive to fulfill the ‘bijli, sadak and paani’ (power, road and water) demands. Asking the opposition to explain why the people were bereft of basic facilities so far, he said, “They say they did a lot for the people ... Toh kya Modi bijli ka khambha ukhaad le gaya kya? (Opposition parties claim they did a lot for the masses, so did Modi uproot the electricity pole?),” he asked.
Pitching his government as one working for the poor, he referred to his government’s decision to ban beacon as another attempt to reduce VIP culture.
“Pehle lal batti ka jo raub dikhate the.. maine unki lal batti chheen kar accha kiya ya nahi ... (Those who boasted of power by displaying red beacon on vehicles .. did I do right by snatching this from them or not),” he asked. The crowd roared in approval.
He referred to late PM Rajiv Gandhi’s statement that 90 paisa was lost on each rupee the government sent to the villages. “Those were the days when Congress ruled from the centre to the panchayats. Phir woh kaun sa panja tha jo rupaye main nabbe paisa maar jaata tha ... (Those were the times when the Congress ruled from the centre till the panchayats. Then which hand ate up 90 paisa on each rupee),” Modi asked.
“Mera gunaah yeh hai ki bhrashtachar aur parivarvaad ke khilaaf puri taaqat se lad raha hoon ... Ye avishvas prastaav aisey hi nahi aaya. Kyunki jab 90,000 crore rupaye idhar udhar jaane band ho jaaye, bhrashtachari raston ko koi band kar de, upar ki kamai ko koi band kar de .. kya us par woh vishvas karenge... aisi Modi sarkaar par wo vishvas karenge kya ...?” (This no confidence vote didn’t come just like that ... My fault is that I am fighting with full might against dynastic rule and corruption . ... The no confidence motion was brought in desperation as my government is busy plugging corruption and saving taxpayer’s money” he said.