PM inaugurates slew of projects in UP, hits out at opposition

GHAZIABAD: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is days away before declaring dates of general elections but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is already in poll mode. On Friday, after attending rallies in Lucknow and Kanpur, Modi landed at Hindon Air Force base in Ghaziabad almost two hours late and by that time over 50,000 people had gathered at the rally venue close to the civil terminal which was first of many projects that Modi inaugurated.

He started his address with an exhortation to the public to chant ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ after him with raised hands and clenched fists which somewhat set the tone and tenor of his address that lasted for about half an hour. “Shout Bharat Mata ki Jai so loudly so that so that your voice reaches jawans guarding our borders,” said Narendra Modi to the crowd.

Patting his government’s back both at the Centre and state for all the good work it has done in the past Modi touched the local issues of Ghaziabad. “During the reign of previous governments Ghaziabad and Western UP were known for different reasons but today 3Cs -- connectvity, cleanliness and capital -- define Ghaziabad,” said Modi with obvious reference to Dilshad Garden - Shaheed Nagar New Bus Adda metro line, civil terminal and Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor which was among the 14 projects which Modi on Wednesday either inaugurated and laid the foundation stone.

He then went on to mention Ghaziabad’s Swachh Sarvekshan ranking in which the city stood at 13 ^th spot. “Two years ago Ghaziabad was at 351 ^st spot in All India swachh ranking and noswachh survekshanw it is at 13 ^th spot and all credit goes to you,” said Modi. Our government has achieved so much in so little time, Modi added.

Like he was aware of state of pollution and traffic jam in the city he further said that projects will give respite from jams and pollution. He then went on to list his welfare schemes for farmers, workers and women that were initiated by his government at Centre.

By this time Modi’s speech sounded repetitive and even monotonous with crowds occasionally bursting into impromptu Modi-Modi chant.

But 19 minutes into his speech Modi shifted gears and for full ten minutes spoke on recent air strike in Pakistan and terrorism and in the process castigated erstwhile UPA government at the Centre. In his trademark style he sought crowds participation like when he said “after series of terror attacks in India be it 26/11 or Mumbai train attack or blasts in Hyderabad during the tenure of the erstwhile UPA government they did nothing and slept over it,” said Modi. “Should I have done the same after Phulwama attack?” said Modi thus drawing in crowd into answering a thunderous No. “If you wanted me to act like previous government then why did you choose me and made me PM,” said Modi. “The fight is still on,” said Modi.

In an attempt to numb opposition’s charge that he is trying to use air strike issue to for electoral gains he said “I did not take credit for Air strike in Pakistan but it was Pakistan who let the world know about air strike first through a tweet it posted at 5 in the morning, do you think Pakistan is stupid? Even though the chowkidar was awake all night during air strike.”

Having built the tempo Modi then launched a full scale attack on the opposition. “The opposition has no faith even in army and says they are lying and it is up to you now as to what do you want to do with them” said Modi. He then said “Identify opposition who has scant regards for country and its armed forces, they want to seize power in Delhi so that they could avoid going to jail.”

He concluded by yet another exhortation to the public. He asked the crowd to switch on the flash light of their cell phones and wave all in the memory of our soldiers.

He then proceeded to Shaheed Nagar New Bus Adda metro station where he flagged off Dilshad Garden- Shaheed Nagar New Bus Adda metro corridor and then took metro ride till Kashmere Gate.