Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Police stations functionin­g like SP offices: Modi

- Sudhir Kumar letters@hindustant­imes.com (With HTC inputs)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) government of encouragin­g corruption and discrimina­tion among the people in UP.

As he wrapped up his campaign for the seven-phase state assembly polls with a rally on the outskirts of the city, he also said police stations in UP were functionin­g like the SP’s offices.

Addressing the gathering at Khushipur in Rohania constituen­cy of Varanasi, the PM said criminals were running their gangs from jails in UP.

“Women in UP do not feel safe. They are scared to come out of their homes alone even during the daytime. The law and order situation is improper and the state government is not doing anything to improve it,” he said

Urging the people to vote for the BJP for the developmen­t of UP, he said: “It is time to free Uttar Pradesh from the misrule of the SP, the BSP and the Congress. It is time to think about the welfare of our youths.”

Describing himself as a person who “has experience­d poverty and therefore wants to improve the lot of the poor”, the PM said his government was aiming at providing houses to every single household in the country by 2022, when the country celebrates 75 years of Independen­ce. On Monday, Modi, who has often accused the Congress of not giving due respect to leaders who were not from the Nehru-Gandhi family, paid tribute to former premier Lal Bahadur Shastri at his ancestral home at Ramnagar in Varanasi.

Before Ramnagar, Modi went to Garhwa Ghat Ashram and offered prayers. The ashram has over a crore followers, especially among the backward castes, and is said to have a powerful say in Yadav community politics.

Saints offered rudraksha garland to the PM who called on Mahant Sharnanand, the head of the sect. The head guru offered his blessings to Modi.

 ?? HT PHOTO ?? Saints of the Garhwa Ghat Ashram welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday.
HT PHOTO Saints of the Garhwa Ghat Ashram welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, on Monday.

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