Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived came to Jalandhar on Monday to campaign for the BJP (NDA) alliance. Former Punjab Chief Minister, Captain Amarinder Singh and Shiromani Akali Dal (United) chief Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and other leaders were present at the rally.
The Prime Minister had to come by helicopter from Adampur Air Force Station to PAP Ground. Full security arrangements had also been made on the road from Adampur airport to PAP Ground. “I want to repay the debt of Punjab. Today, the money of Kisan Samman Nidhi is going to the accounts of more than 23 lakh farmers of Punjab. The BJP government has also increased more than double the purchase of crops from farmers at MSP. We also ensured that the purchase money goes directly to the bank accounts of the farmers,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi said that it is a great pleasure in itself to come to the land of gurus, pirs, great revolutionaries and generals. “While bowing down to all the gurus, I bow down from the land of Jalandhar to Mother Tripuramalini, the deity of Shaktipeeth Devi pond.” He wished to bow down at the feet of Goddess and seek her blessings, But the administration and police here showed their helplessness and said they were not able to make arrangements, “You leave by helicopter. Now this is the condition of the government,” said PM Modi.
PM Modi said that the way businesses in Punjab have been given to the mafia, this game will not be allowed in the BJP government. “Under a BJP government, businessmen here will do their business without any tyranny, without any fear.”
Speaking on the Shiromani Akali Dal, PM Modi said, “We supported the Akali Dal. When we were with the Akali Dal, we always accepted our small role by treating them as elder brother. There was only one thing in our heart that whatever would be good for Punjab, we would do it. Badal sahib made his son the deputy CM. Even then, we chose to stay with Akali Dal despite the fact it was we with whom Akalis made government then; we sacrificed the legitimate right of Manoranjan Kalia of becoming Deputy CM then.”
Talking on the internal chaos of Congress, PM said, “Congress people are fighting among themselves, how will this government be stable for Punjab? The Congress government is run by the remote control of the family. People fighting among themselves cannot give a stable government to Punjab. These people who are trying to save their chair cannot develop Punjab.”
The PM said that in the past years, “all of you have seen my hard work for the country. Whatever resolution we took for the country, we made it a project to fulfil it”. PM Modi said that a new India will be made when “Nawaan Punjab” will be formed in this decade—“a Nawa Punjab in which there will be heritage, and development will also take place; a Nawa Punjab which will be free from debt, and will be full of opportunities; a Nawa Punjab where every Dalit brother and sister will get respect, and there will be proper participation at every level”.
The PM said that Punjab has fed him roti when he used to work from village to village here as an ordinary BJP worker—Punjab has given him so much that he felt like working harder every time to pay off his debt.
PM Modi said that Monday was the “third anniversary of the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pulwama, the third anniversary of our brave martyrs. I bow my head in respect at the feet of the brave martyrs of Mother India from the soil of Punjab.”
From the stage, Captain Amarinder Singh described the Prime Minister as a strong person. He said that after 30 years, “I have met the PM on the soil of Jalandhar”. On nationalism, the Captain said that for the alliance of Pakistan-China-Taliban on one hand, a strong leader like Prime Minister Narendra Modi is needed. There is a need for a government at the Centre and the state, he said. He appealed to the people to help form a BJP government.