New Delhi : Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday made a slew of promises to people of Delhi, including round-the-clock power, electricity portability, housing for all and asked them to punish the AAP for quitting the government last year.
Addressing a Bharatiya Janata Party rally at the Ramlila Maidan here in the rup-up to the Delhi elections, Modi attacked Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal for his “anarchist” remark, saying that “if anarchy has to be practised, (he should) join Naxalites (Maoists) in jungles”.
Modi also attacked the Congress but largely focused on the AAP which had won 28 seats in the 2013 assembly polls and finished close behind the BJP which won 31 seats in the 70-member assembly.
Modi urged the people of Delhi to give him their support for a “strong, stable” government in the capital.
Without naming the AAP or Kejriwal, Modi accused the party of spreading lies.
Modi said a rumour was being spread that a BJP government will bring down the retirement age of government officials in Delhi to 58 from 60.
“People of Delhi, a new lie will be manufactured every day. To misguide, spread lies, this is their way of politics. Modi is not a person who will ever back-stab. If lies are spread, do not believe them,” he said.
Referring to Kejriwal resigning from office after 49 days in power, Modi said a year was wasted in Delhi.
“Those who destroyed a year, will you punish them?” he asked the gathering.
Referring to the AAP’s agitational politics, he said people specialise in a particular task and that should be given to them.
“Those who have specialisation in blocking roads, staging sit-ins, launching agitations, give them that work. Our specialistaion is in running a good government. Give us that task,” Modi said.
Referring to Kerjiwal’s “I am an anarchist” remark, Modi wondered if people had seen a politician who spoke such language.
“Anarchy cannot prevail in Delhi. It should have a sense of pride,” he said.
The prime minister said a BJP government will fill the “deficit” of democratic governance in the past year in Delhi and also fulfill the “unfulfilled dreams of the past 15 years”.
Modi alleged that the past governments in Delhi had done little for the poor and were indecisive.
He said the BJP government at the centre has taken measures to solve water woes of Delhi and nearly 20 lakh bank accounts of poor have been opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMGDY).
“It (Delhi) was ruled by the Congress, but lakhs of poor did not have bank accounts,” he said, adding that 19.5 lakh bank accounts of the poor were opened in the capital under the PMJDY and they will also be given an insurance cover of Rs.1 lakh.
Referring to corruption at the grassroots level, Modi said he has started a job of cleaning from the top.
“I have started it from the place I sit. Slowly, I am going to bring it to gullies (streets) and localities. Have faith on me. I have started from the top. Will do it at the lowest level.”
Referring to the AAP’s promise to bring down prices of power, he said it can be done only if houses have electricity.
Modi said the government will ensure that there was no need of generators in the city by ensuring round-the-clock power and the initiative will also help reduce pollution.
He said a BJP government will also provide people with power bill portability and they can choose the company from which they want electricity.
“This will ensure competition and bring down prices.
“There is solution to every problem. Intentions should be honest. Delhi wants solution to its problems,” he said.
Modi said slum dwellers in the national capital will have a house by 2022.
“It is a huge task. If small tasks were to be done, people would not have brought me,” he said.
The BJP has been out of power in the capital for the last 16 years, with the Congress ruling the city for three terms in succession from 1998. However, the Congress performed poorly in the last assembly polls and could win only eight seats.