Modi likely to take on AAP, Cong on federalism, 1984 riots

PM set to canvass for BJP candidates in the Capital today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attack the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) pitch of statehood and raise the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots against the Congress at his maiden, and only rally, here on Wednesday to canvass for the Delhi BJP candidates, party insiders claimed on Tuesday.

Nationalism pitch

According to a party source, in addition to raising BJP’s nationalism and national security pitch at the Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday evening, Mr. Modi was likely to speak about the “spirit” of the country’s “federal structure” and “cooperative federalism” to counter the AAP-led Delhi government’s electoral battle cry of full statehood.

This, according to a party leader, would pave the way for the Prime Minister’s attack — “without naming names” — on the AAP government’s “deliberate attempts” at ensuring the non-implementation of Centre-sponsored schemes such as Ayushman Bharat and “hurdles” which it allegedly put in relation to approving phase-IV of the Delhi metro’s network.

‘Last nail in coffin’

The Prime Minister, according to another party leader, was “more than likely” to resurrect the issue of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots to corner and attack the Congress followed by the “achievements of the BJP-led Centre” in relation to “delivering justice to its perpetrators”.

Union Minister and BJP leader Vijay Goel, earlier during the day, said, “I understand that after this rally, the Congress and AAP candidates will find it difficult to save their deposits. This will be the last nail in the coffin of the Opposition in Delhi. We have held meetings in all of our 272 divisions in the city over the last 10 days and reached out to students, especially the first-time voters, traders and Muslim women, urging them to participate in the rally in greater numbers.”

The BJP is “expecting Muslim women and first-time voters” to participate in “large numbers”, he said.

Ferry arrangements

“We chose Ramlila Maidan for the rally considering its political significance and that the public meeting would be the largest-ever in Delhi. Large digital screens will be put up on the roadside. Arrangements have been made to ferry people from Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad for the rally,” he claimed.