Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Vote out those who doubted surgical and air strikes: PM MODI TARGETS AAP

Says Delhi must vote for party that doesn’t engage in appeasemen­t politics, supports CAA

- Risha Chitlangia and Ashish Mishra htreporter­s@hindustant­imes.com

nNEWDELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Tuesday that the people of Delhi need a government that doesn’t engage in appeasemen­t politics, and supports the Citizenshi­p (Amendment) Act, or CAA, and the nullificat­ion of Article 370. Modi also listed the work done by the Centre in the national capital at an election rally.

Without naming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) at the rally in Dwarka, Modi urged people to “vote out” those who “raised doubts over surgical strikes”, supported anarchism and stalled Centre’s developmen­t schemes in Delhi. In the speech ahead of the February 8 assembly elections, the PM said: “Are the people of Delhi not angry at the way leaders of the state government had made statements after the surgical and air strikes?” It was a reference to the September 2016 strikes against militant launch pads across the border, and the February 2019 air strikes on a Jaish-e-mohammed terror camp in Pakistan.

Haryana’s deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala and BJP chief JP Nadda were also present at the rally.

“Delhi needs a government that will not resort to appeasemen­t but support the CAA, nullificat­ion of Article 370 and issues of national security. Delhi does not want complicate­d politics, but sorted politics,” Modi said. Article 370’s nullificat­ion divested Jammu and Kashmir of its special status under the Constituti­on.

The AAP won 67 of the 70 seats in the assembly polls in 2015. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won three seats. “I have full faith in the people of Delhi that they will punish the same people who are seeking their votes on February 8… To make Delhi safe, free from anarchy and violence and to make it a world-class capital of the 21st century, I would request you to press the lotus button (BJP’S election symbol) on polling day,” he added.

The PM said the BJP won’t wait for elections to deliver on its promises. “Delhi needs a government that can give a new direction to the city and not make excuses. It needs a government that believes in problem-solving instead of posing hurdles. It needs a government which believes in taking everyone along,” he said.

The PM’S speech came at a time when contest in Delhi has intensifie­d, with sharp exch-anges between the BJP and the AAP. While the AAP has focused on its governance record, particular­ly on health and education, the BJP has questioned AAP’S claims, and sought to project national issues, including CAA.

Listing various schemes of the Centre on Tuesday, Modi said residents of Delhi had been deprived of the benefits of many central government schemes.if the Ayushman Bharat health insurance was scheme care had been implemente­d in Delhi, people would have received free treatment worth ₹5 lakh in any part of the country, he said.

“If you fall ill in some other city, will mohalla clinic come there,” he said.

The Dwarka rally was organised for the candidates of assembly segments falling in the south and west parliament­ary constituen­cies that have a large numbers of villages.

The PM spoke about the government’s welfare scheme for farmers — Kisan Samman Nidhi — which has not been implemente­d in Delhi.

“Everyone remembers how the head of Delhi government used derogatory and insulting language for the police force. It shows their mindset. In contrast, our government has built a National Police Memorial honouring their sacrifices. It shows our values,” he said.

BJP chief Nadda targeted the AAP government on the education sector and said: “No new schools and colleges have been opened in the city. It was during former CMS of Delhi Madan Lal Khurrana and Sahib Singh Verma who had started new schools and colleges. There has been no developmen­t in the past so many years.”

Delhi needs a government that will not resort to appeasemen­t but support the CAA, nullificat­ion of Article 370 and issues of national security. Delhi does not want complicate­d politics, but sorted politics.

NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister

 ?? VIPIN KUMAR/HT PHOTO ?? Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP candidates during Sanklap Rally at Dwarka‘s Sector 14, DDA n
Ground, on Tuesday.
VIPIN KUMAR/HT PHOTO Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP candidates during Sanklap Rally at Dwarka‘s Sector 14, DDA n Ground, on Tuesday.

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