As the election campaign in Haryana intensifies ahead of the October 5 polling day, senior BJP leaders, including Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, have taken centre stage in leading the party’s efforts. Their focus has sharpened on securing the crucial Rajput community’s vote, a key demographic in the state.
Following the intense campaigning by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in the past couple of days rallies by Rajnath and Adityanath have drawn attention to BJP’s developmental achievements while delivering pointed criticism of Congress’s past governance and stance on national issues.
Addressing a rally in Charkhi Dadri, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh took a dig at the Congress, highlighting the BJP’s clean governance. “PM Modi’s government has been at the centre for 10 years, and not a single minister has been charged with corruption. In contrast, during Congress’s tenure, several leaders faced corruption charges, and some even ended up in jail,” said Singh.
He further emphasized BJP’s focus on transparency and fair governance. “When Congress was in power, securing a job required recommendations or bribes. We have ended that corrupt system,” Singh said. He recounted his earlier promise from Haryana’s soil in 2013 about implementing the One Rank One Pension (OROP) policy. “BJP not only implemented OROP but has revised it thrice now, proving that we fulfill our promises,” he asserted.
The Defence Minister also praised the BJP’s farmer-centric initiatives, stating that under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme, ₹3.25 lakh crore was directly transferred into farmers’ bank accounts. “Haryana stands as the state that procures 24 crops at MSP and offers additional price support through the Bhavantar Bharpai Yojana,” he added, emphasizing the state’s remarkable progress in ensuring water supply to nearly every household through the Jal Jeevan Mission.
Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a strong pitch for BJP candidates at rallies in Narnaul, Bawani Khera, Panchkula, and Hansi. Adityanath urged voters to re-elect Captain Abhimanyu from Narnaund, emphasizing that their votes for the lotus symbol (BJP’s emblem) would bring prosperity akin to the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi.
Launching a scathing attack on Congress, Adityanath remarked, “The ‘Accidental Hindus’ who have been raised in the culture of Rome cannot tolerate the construction of the Ram Temple.” He stated that PM Modi’s leadership ended the 500-year-long wait to see Lord Ram established at Ayodhya, a moment celebrated by millions except for the Congress, who he claimed, “shed crocodile tears over it.”
Adityanath lambasted Rahul Gandhi without naming him, saying, “Those who criticize the Ram temple inauguration as a mere celebration were themselves raised in a culture of constant revelry.” He added, “Congress was involved in corrupt partnerships with notorious mafias in Uttar Pradesh and has always been a source of terrorism, extremism, and corruption in the country.”
The UP Chief Minister took sharp jabs at Congress, alleging that they looted the nation for decades and stashed money in Swiss banks. “While BJP workers served the people during the pandemic, where was Rahul Gandhi? He was seeking solace in Italy,” Adityanath commented, highlighting Congress’s alleged disconnection from the country’s concerns.
“Congress represents the roles of Ravan, Meghnad, and Kumbhkaran, while BJP stands for Ram Rajya and good governance,” Adityanath proclaimed, stating that Haryana has witnessed unprecedented growth under the “double-engine government” led by BJP at both the state and central levels. Yogi Adityanath accused Congress of disrespecting Hindu beliefs.
