Sukhmeet Bhasin
Abohar, February 17
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lashed out at Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for playing “divisive and separatist” politics.
Addressing a rally today at Abohar, the PM appealed to the people of Punjab to give the NDA government a chance to bring all-round development in the state.
Migrants part of Punjab, says Channi
My statement was aimed at Kejriwal and other AAP leaders who were ‘disturbing’ Punjab from outside. Migrants are very much part of Punjab. Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Chief Minister
BJP’s nationalism fake
Based on policy of divide and rule, BJP’s nationalism is fake. The govt, rather than admitting mistakes, is blaming Nehru for people’s woes. Manmohan Singh, Ex-Prime Minister
Reject outsiders
Kejriwal filed cases to rob Punjab of river waters and banned the teaching of the language of Gurus in Delhi. Allowing outsiders to enslave Punjab will be betrayal. Parkash Singh Badal, Ex- Chief Minister
Modi Appeals to first-time voters
I especially want to tell first-time voters this is an important occasion in your life. You will be part of the decision to decide Punjab’s future and bring a change. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
PM Modi hit out at Channi for his “UP, Bihar and Delhi de bhaiye” remark, saying people with such “divisive thought” shouldn’t have the right to rule the state.
Channi during a roadshow in Ropar on Tuesday courted controversy by asking people not to let “bhaiyas” of UP, Bihar and Delhi enter Punjab. In a video circulating on social media, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is seen cheering Channi when he made the remark.
Tearing into the Congress, the PM said it “always makes people of one region fight against another region for its own gains”. PM Modi said the remark was not only an insult to the people of UP and Bihar but also to Guru Ravidas and Guru Gobind Singh, who were born in UP and Bihar, respectively.
The Prime Minister also lashed out at Arvind Kejriwal over the “revelations” made by Kumar Vishwas, former member of AAP’s national executive, that the Delhi CM was “resorting to separatist politics” to grab power in Punjab.
Modi said Vishwas had revealed the real intentions of Kejriwal, “who can go to any extent to grab power in Punjab, even if it meant dividing the country”. He warned Punjab against the designs of such people who were out to divide the country. He alleged that they can even align with separatists and anti-nationals. “They speak the same language as that of Pakistan, which is why they even questioned surgical strikes against that country.”
Modi said AAP leaders had been spreading lies too. “They have opened liquor vends outside schools in Delhi, while here they are claiming they’ll put an end to the drug menace.” He said that with the presence of mafia in the state, small traders were feeling insecure. “Industry is going out of the state, and as a result young people are not getting jobs.” The PM assured the people that the BJP’s double-engine government would bring in better infrastructure, industry and transparency.
The BJP candidate from Abohar, Arun Narang, could not attend the rally since he had contracted Covid.
PM: Both Channi, Kejriwal playing divisive politics
{$excerpt:n}
