The Asian Age

PM in Assam: My govt did in 10 yrs what Congress couldn’t do in 60 yrs

BJP focuses on developmen­t, welfare; Cong pitches for 5 pillars of justice

- MANOJ ANAND GUWAHATI, APRIL 17

We came with hope in 2014, trust in 2019 and guarantee in 2024. The NDA has decided to reach out to every citizen of the country and provide them the facilities they deserve.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday targeted the Congress Party as he asserted that what the grand old party could not do in 60 years, he as Prime Minister had done in just 10 years.

Addressing a large public rally at Nalbari in Assam, the PM went on to say that the entire Northeast, which was given only problems by the Congress, had been transforme­d by the BJP into “a source of possibilit­ies”. He also added that the Congress had fuelled separatism while he had made efforts for peace, developmen­t and security.

Referring to the turnout of people at his public rally as unpreceden­ted, Mr Modi said: “Today Modi’s guarantee is going on in the entire country and the Northeast itself is a witness to Modi’s guarantee.”

Pointing out how his government had brought changes in Assam by transformi­ng its infrastruc­ture and bringing in investment in sectors like the foundation of semiconduc­tor manufactur­ing

— Narendra Modi Prime Minister

units with an investment of `27,000 crores, the Prime Minister said: “Modi has also given a guarantee that all the elderly people above 70 years of age will get free treatment facilities up to `5 lakhs under Ayushman Yojana. Modi will take care of their treatment without any discrimina­tion...”

He further said: “The farmers here have received more than `5,400 crores under the PMKISAN Yojana. And now, the BJP has announced it will continue with this scheme, thereby helping and empowering Assam’s farmers without any discrimina­tion,” he said.

Mr Modi said: “We came with hope in 2014, trust in 2019 and guarantee in 2024. The NDA has decided to reach out to every citizen of the country and provide them the facilities they deserve. In the next five years, three crore more new houses will be built for the poor and everyone will get them without any discrimina­tion.”

Stating that free rations will also be provided to all without discrimina­tion for the next five years, he reiterated that developing Assam has always been the priority of his government and the welfare initiative­s have empowered the people of Assam.

Addressing the rally, Mr Modi also hailed the “Surya Tilak”

New Delhi, April 17: Campaignin­g ended Wednesday evening for 102 Lok Sabha seats across 21 states and Union territorie­s that will go to polls in the first phase on April 19, with top leaders of the BJP-led NDA and the Opposition INDIA bloc making a last-gasp effort to woo voters.

Leading the charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took whirlwind tours of various constituen­cies in the past few days, addressing rallies and holding roadshows, and asserting that he went to people with hope in 2014, trust in 2019 and guarantee in 2024. Many a times he has said there is “Modi’s guarantee across the country and I am giving the guarantee of fulfilling all the guarantees”.

Home minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh and several of their Cabinet colleagues, leaders of the Congress such as Mallikarju­n Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, and other parties also canvassed for their candidates.

The BJP has come out all guns blazing at the INDIA bloc over corruption, dynasty politics and insulting the Constituti­on and Hinduism.

The Opposition leaders, in turn, have attacked the government over electoral bonds, alleged misuse of agencies, inflation and unemployme­nt among other issues.

The BJP in its manifesto prioritise­d developmen­t and welfare while shunning populist measures and contentiou­s issues like the NRC.

Named “Modi ki Guarantee”, the manifesto largely built on the government’s existing welfare schemes targeted at different sections of society, while reiteratin­g the BJP’s commitment to roll out one-nation-one-election and Uniform Civil Code, two issues mentioned in its 2019 manifesto too.

In its 45-page manifesto titled “Nyay Patra”, the Congress focussed on five “pillars of justice” and 25 guarantees under them.

Right to apprentice­ship, a legal guarantee for MSP, passing a constituti­onal amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservatio­ns for SCs, STs and OBCs, a nation-wide caste census and scrapping of Agnipath scheme are among the promises made by the party in the manifesto.

 ?? — PTI ?? Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a public meeting in Nalbari district, Assam, on Wednesday.
— PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a public meeting in Nalbari district, Assam, on Wednesday.
 ?? — PTI ?? A senior citizen casts his vote through postal ballot for the Lok Sabha polls in Nagaon on Wednesday.
— PTI A senior citizen casts his vote through postal ballot for the Lok Sabha polls in Nagaon on Wednesday.

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