Need to fight Pak drugs same way as terror: PM
Modi urges voters to punish those who opposed Article 370 abrogation
REWARI/MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi used the effective revocation of Article 370 as ammunition to attack opposition parties on Saturday as the campaign ended for the October 21 assembly elections in Haryana and Maharashtra -- the BJP’s first electoral test since it recaptured national power in May. Modi also accused Pakistan of encouraging drug smuggling into India.
“With your blessing we took a decision to remove Article 370 and we did it,” Modi said at a ‘Vijay Sankalp Rally’ in Rewari on Saturday afternoon, referring to the constitutional provision that conferred special status on Jammu and Kashmir, which the BJP government nullified on August 5 when it decided to also bifurcate the state into two Union territories — J&K and Ladakh
The PM asked the estimated 25,000 people who attended the rally whether removal of Article 370 in Kashmir was right or wrong. People shouted back, ‘Yes, it was right’. Modi, then went on to ask, ‘Do I have your blessing in this decision?’. “Yes,” went the crowd’s chant.
Modi launched a series of attacks on the Congress party. “Congress was only concerned about their vote bank. Their leaders were asking each other, what does Modi think of himself, he has removed Article 370,” he said. The PM questioned the crowd how those who opposed Article 370’s revocation had come to seek votes in Haryana. “You should punish such people. Ensure Congress’ loss is written in history,” he said. Since moving to strip J&K of its special status in an avowed attempt to integrate it more closely with the national mainstream, the BJP has put the issue at the top of its poll campaign as it seeks another term in both Haryana and Maharashtra.
In Rewari, Modi cited his government’s attempts to modernise the armed forces, contrasting the effort with a time when, he claimed, the defence forces even lacked bullet-proof jackets.
“When we came to power, we launched modernisation of the armed forces. Today, we have the most advanced submarines, fighter jets. The earlier government was going to put Tejas aircraft {project} in cold storage. Today, that same jet is ready for the armed forces,” he said.
Modi spoke on how the defence strategy had changed over the years. “Today, we kill terrorists in their home. Those who threatened us till yesterday have fear in their eyes,” he said. He even spoke of having made a national war memorial and national police memorial and museum in New Delhi. “Since independence, 33,000 police personnel have laid down their lives for the country. No one made a memorial for them, but I did that,” he added.
At a rally in Ellenabad, Modi targeted Pakistan. After failing to push terrorists and arms into India, Pakistan is encouraging drug smuggling to India, he said.
“The youth of Haryana must fight the drug menace. It destroys not only individuals but also their families and the larger society. Our neighbours first tried to push terrorists and weapons into India. Now they have resorted to pushing in drugs to destroy our youth. We must fight drugs as we fight terrorism,” he said.
From Rewari, BJP has fielded Sunil Yadav Musepur, who is up against Congress candidate Chiranjeev Rao, son of former minister Ajay Yadav. At the rally, Modi recalled his address to the people of Rewari on September 15, 2013 after BJP had declared him as its PM candidate. “It was from Rewari that my new journey in politics began. In the last few years, if I have been able to do anything for the country, it’s because of the blessings people of Rewari have given me,” he said.
The Congress rubbished the claims made by Modi. Ved Prakash Vidrohi, state Congess spokesperson, said: “Whatever Modi has said for the Congress is wrong. I want to ask BJP, why did they select Rewari for PM’s rally. Are they afraid of losing?”
CHANDIGARH: Canvassing for the 90 assembly seats in Haryana ended on Saturday evening. As per the guidelines of the election commission (EC), public meetings and processions are not allowed during the 48-hour period ending with the hour fixed for the conclusion of polling.
Over 1.83 crore voters will decide the fate of 1,169 candidates for the 90 assembly seats on October 21. The polling will held from 7am to 6pm and the results will be declared on October 24.
From Saturday evening, candidate cannot display to the public any poll matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus during this 48 hours period. The EC said that political functionaries who have come from outside the constituency and are not voters of the constituency should leave the constituency immediately after the campaigning period is over. This does not apply to the candidate or his polling agent even if they are not voters in the constituency.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held two poll rallies on the last day of the campaigning at Sirsa and Rewari. Modi who was initially scheduled to hold only four poll meetings in the state went on to address seven poll meetings across the state. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi only held two public meetings during the campaign period – at Nuh and Mahendragarh.
Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar did a road show in Karnal, the seat from here is seeking a second term, on the last day of canvassing.
Former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda canvassed for party nominees in Badhra in Charkhi Dadri district, Samalkha and Israna in Panipat district. Hooda was accompanied by former cricketer Virender Sehwag at Badhra, Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot and state Congress chief Kumari Selja during his Samalkha and Israna poll tour. Congress national spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, who is contesting from Kaithal, held a rally in Kaithal town.
Dushyant Chautala of the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) campaigned for party candidates in Jhajjar, Badli, Badhra and Gohana. He was accompanied by former Congress president Ashok Tanwar who has extended his support to Dushyant after quitting the Congress. INLD leader Abhay Chautala also held a poll rally at Nathusri Chopta in Ellenabad, from where he is contesting. Former Punjab deputy chief minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal also joined Chautala for the rally.
Among the celebrities who canvassed on the last day were BJP’s Gurdaspur MP Sunny Deol who campaigned for party candidates in Badli, Uchana Kalan and Dadri. BJP’s Mathura MP Hema Malini canvassed for party candidates in Israna, Safidon and Narwana in Jind, Yamunanagar and Panchkula.
Besides the ruling BJP, Congress, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the JJP and other players are in the contest for single-phase election.
Political observers say the main contest is largely between the BJP and the Congress.
Riding high on pro-incumbency and the Modi wave, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar believes he will take his party’s tally to “75 plus” from the present 47 legislators, while Congress’ two-time chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has been raising the pitch against unemployment, law and order and lack of development.
Focusing on farmers, labourers, youth and industrialists, the saffron party manifesto pledges to give an interest-free crop loan of up to Rs 3 lakh to farmers and promises to complete a target of Rs 5,000 crore interest and penalty waiver on crop loans taken from cooperative banks.
The Congress is trying to woo the youth, farmers and women with the promise of an allowance of Rs 10,000 per month to all unemployed postgraduates and Rs 7,000 to all unemployed undergraduates in its manifesto.
It has also promised 33% reservation to women in government jobs and 50% reservation in panchayati raj institutions, in municipal corporations and city councils if it is voted to power in the state.
The Chautala clan-led INLD as well as its offshoot Dushyant Chautala’s JJP are also trying to make a dent in the votes of the two parties. Some seats are likely to see a triangular contest.
PM MODI, CM KHATTAR, EX-CM HOODA, CELEBRITIES SUNNY DEOL, HEMA MALINI AMONG OTHERS MAKE LIST-DITCH EFFORT TO WOO VOTERS ON LAST DAY