Citing the example of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka that killed nearly 300 people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that India is now virtually “terror-free”.
Addressing an election rally at Pimpalgaon in Nashikdistrict, Modi said: “Scores were killed in Sri Lanka when terrorists struck atthe innocent Christians peacefully engaged in prayers in churches, yesterday(Sunday).”
“What was the situation in India prior to 2014? Therewere regular terror strikes in Maharashtra, Ayodhya, Jammu and Kashmir andother parts of the country. The (then) Congress-Nationalist Congress Partygovernment just mourned and kept crying about Pakistan.”
“But after coming to power in 2014, your ‘Chowkidar’changed that strategy and rammed the terrorists inside their dens and theresult is before all to see,” he said, referring to the February 26 IndianAir Force strikes in Balakot, Pakistan, after the February 14 Pulwama attackwhich killed 40 CRPF troopers.
Militancy is now practically erased from the country,barring some pockets in Jammu and Kashmir but even there, our security forcesregularly keep killing the militants, he said. “The militants are scared thatunder ‘Modi’ they cannot escape punishment,” he said.
Later, at a rally in Nandurbar, Modi assured that nobodywould change the structure of reservations till he is at the helm of affairs.
He assured the predominantly tribal farmers here that theirlands are safe and sought the people to vote for “a strong government at theCentre”, as due to corruption in the Congress-led government, nothing had beendone for the people of north Maharashtra.
Modi promised he would strive to increase the farmers’ incomesby enabling production of ethanol from sugarcane which the previousCongress-NCP governments never bothered for.
“This will give you higher remuneration prices for yoursugarcane, ethanol mixed with petrol would reduce the prices of petrol, reducethe oil bills burden on the country”. Earlier, only 40 crorelitres ethanol wasproduced, not it has gone up to 140 crorelitres. The previous government hadknowledge of all of this but they never bothered as it would remove the ‘cream’of their earnings,” Modi said.
He expressed optimism that the BJP-NDA would sweep to powerat the Centre after which the government would implement further welfaremeasures.
Under attack from the Congress for not letting the Rafalecontract go to the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), Modi accused theopposition party of destroying the state-run enterprise. The HAL has a unit inNashik.
The PM said his government has increased defence productionunder the ‘Make in India’ programme.
Campaigning for BJP-Shiv Sena alliance candidates fromNashik, Dindori and DhuleLokSabha constituencies, Modi said the Lanka blaststook place on Easter when people were sharing the message of peace.
Without naming any leader from the opposition, Modi said”some” experience electric current the moment I talk about dynastyand national security.
He said the opposition was restless given the response theBJP got in the first two phases of the LokSabha polls across the country.
Addressing the rally in a region known for onion production,Modi said his government is trying to increase onion storage capacity andreduce tax on their transportation.
He claimed that the Congress tweaked crop prices to benefitmiddlemen. “I have fought a battle against these middlemen,” headded.
“Our government working to end the rule ofmiddlemen,” Modi said.
Speaking at a poll rally at Nandurbar later, Modi saidaccused the opposition parties of spreading rumours that reservations willmodified if he returns to power.
Modi said he will ensure that the quota quantum is not disturbed.”Till Modi is here, nobody can touch reservations, given to us byDrBabasahebAmbedkar,” he said.
Modi also assured people in the tribal dominatedconstituencies in north Maharashtra that his government will ensure they wouldnot face eviction from their land.
“As long as Modi is there, reservation for adivasiswill not be removed. No one can lay hand on your agricultural land you arecultivating now,” he said.
The adivasis are currently struggling to keep their landwith themselves as some provisions of the Forest Rights Act are beingchallenged.
“In Maharashtra alone, 1.25 crore farmers’ families arebenefiting from Pradhan MantriKrishiSammanYojana. If voted to power again, wewill remove the upper land holding limit of five acre,” Modi said.
“My government is also going to introduce a pensionscheme for farmers in coming years,” he said.
North Maharashtra produces sugarcane which can be used forethanol production, Modi said. It will create jobs for locals but theCongress-NCP leaders never allowed it to happen, he said.
“These leaders used to get kickbacks for importingfuel. If fuel imports are reduced due to ethanol blending, they fear of losingtheir income,” Modi said.
Recalling that it was in Nandurbar that the Aadhar schemewas launched in 2010, Modi said his government ensured its wider impact.”But and now the Congress has approached the Supreme Court against Aadharcard,” he said.
Funds meant for pregnant women and children were”looted” by Congress leaders in Madhya Pradesh and were seized fromresidences of some of their leaders, he said.
“They (Congress) are unrelenting in abusing me as Itargeted their corruption,” Modi said.
The PM also attacked Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamyfor his alleged remark that those who don’t get a square meal join the army andbecome jawans.
Modi said that according to Kumaraswamy, people who guard our borders are not children of the rich and join the armed forces because they don’t have food to eat.