A day before campaigning for the Delhi Assembly elections comes to an end, BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday targeted the Delhi government for “failing” to address major problems of the city despite being at the helm for the past 15 years. Urging the voters to defeat the Congress in the upcoming polls, he also targeted the Aam Aadmi Party stating that people should be wary of the new political front that was formed by some who back-stabbed Anna Hazare.
“Do not let go this opportunity to oust the Congress government. The Congress is known for cheating people. In 2009, they promised to bring down inflation within 100 days. They broke that promise, you strike off relations with the Congress,” said Mr. Modi at a public meeting at Dakshinpuri in South Delhi, the same venue where Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had addressed a rally on November 17 that witnessed a low turnout.
Mr. Modi’s rally – which witnessed an impressive turnout -- was repeatedly highlighted by other speakers, drawing parallels of the attendance at the venue with that for Mr. Gandhi.
Calling upon the voters to come out in huge numbers on December 4, Mr. Modi urged them to keep certain things in mind before exercising their franchise. “Delhi is the heart of the nation. Before casting your vote, do ponder over why Delhi has earned the tag of being a rape capital. Also remember the Nirbhaya case and the police atrocities against the youth seeking justice at India Gate after that case. Don’t forget the midnight atrocity at Ramlila Maidan inflicted on Baba Ramdev and his supporters,” said Mr. Modi, adding that people must not forget the “ Mama and Bhanja (uncle and the nephew)” in an apparent reference to former Rail Minister Pawan Bansal.
Slamming the Delhi government on a range of issues, including water scarcity, deteriorating law and order situation, corruption in the CWG Games and ‘failure’ of the Ambedkar Nagar BRT corridor in South Delhi, Mr. Modi said: “The Congress has built a symbol of corruption closer to this ground. The BRT corridor in Delhi is a total failure while that in Gujarat is successful. It is because there is corruption. Haryana has to supply water to Delhi. Congress is ruling in Delhi, Haryana as well as at the Centre, but still the water crisis continues. Because the Congress is interested only in grabbing power.”
In an apparent reference to the latest controversy surrounding snoopgate and “misuse of the CBI”, Mr. Modi ‘warned’ the Congress stating that “the Congress must remember that I am Narendra Modi and not Mulayam Singh or Mayawati. The more they try to malign us, the more it would benefit the BJP”.
The BJP leader also targeted the AAP stating that “a handful of people formed the new political front by back-stabbing Anna Hazare who was successful in creating an anti-corruption movement in the country after Jayaprakash Narayan”.
“If they did not spare Anna, can you repose any trust in them,” Mr. Modi said, asking people to vote for the BJP which will ensure good governance and address major challenges facing the city.
