Despite of heavy showers, thousands of people and BJP cadres on Thursday waited patiently on the historic Ridge Maidan for the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s motivational campaign speech in the Parivartan Rally for the coming Vidhan Sabha elections in the hill State.
Virtually launching the campaign, the Prime Minister appealed to the crowd to defeat and oust the dishonest and corrupt forces. He reminded people of his recent demonetisation move against black money stashers and corrupt hoarders. Mr. Modi mentioned in his speech about the overwhelming support by the people in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand and most recently in Delhi due to his move against black money. He asserted that youth has decided to oppose the dishonest and corrupt politicians.
Without naming the Himachal Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh for his involvement in corruption cases he said, “Possibly there is no other Chief Minister in this country who is running after the lawyers all the times to save his skin in one court or another”.
But the people have decided not to compromise with the corrupt now and to replace them with the honest and sincere leadership, he added. He said his tough decisions have also annoyed a big section in the society, that was pursuing the status quo and nobody was questioning them.
“Though they are after my blood but I have made up my mind to tighten the system”, he said. Giving examples of pharmaceutical companies and heart stent manufacturers he explained that how after a great effort he has been successful in reducing the prices.
“Now the poor also can afford these and live longer”, he said while claiming that he had also seen and felt the poverty very closely.
Connecting with the local people, the Prime Minister said he had addressed a rally twenty years ago on the same Ridge Maidan during the Vajpayee government when he was working for the organisation. He recollected his long hours spent in the Mall Road Coffee House with the local journalists.
Mr. Modi emphasised on hydel potential, fruit production and tourism with better connectivity for the State and the need to harness their scope. He said a great relief would be provided to the fruit growers when the aerated drinks manufacturers would start adding at least 5% of the fruit juice in their products. The talks are on for other fruits and the manufacturers have already started taking the oranges in Nagpur, he disclosed.
Striking cord with a large number of ex-service men in Himachal Pradesh, Mr. Modi also explained that how the successive governments cheated them with the one-rank one-pension scheme. “Now we have marked Rs. 15,000 crore for it and releasing it in four installments”, he said.
Prime Minister also counted many other central schemes initiated for the betterment of common people and subtly appealed to people to vote for his party and for a change in the Parivartan Rally .
Senior BJP leaders Shanta Kumar, Prem Kumar Dhumal and JP Nadda were also present on the dais.
Union Minister Nadda said the present Chief Minister who is found in one court or the other every day fighting his corruption cases has shamed the innocent hill people of Himachal Pradesh.
