Wednesday, 09 February 2022 | PNS | Dehradun
These Assembly elections will play a crucial role in strengthening the state’s foundations for the next 25 years. Stating that the other parties do not intend to ensure public welfare in Uttarakhand, Prime Minister Narendra Modi exhorted the people to compare performances and consider the special place he has in his heart for Uttarakhand while casting their vote.
Addressing the virtual Vijay Sankalp Sabha in Nainital on Tuesday, Modi said that some parties damaged Uttarakhand for years, some have come to destroy Uttarakhand. They had evicted busloads of Uttarakhandis from Delhi during Covid pandemic, he said alluding to AAP. “The intention and dedication of the Congress can be gauged from their election campaign and slogans. You already know their deeds but also see what they are going to do. They were in power at the Centre for decades and their leaders visited this place for fun but never bothered about the people and their problems. They didn’t realise the problems faced by people due to poor connectivity. Whole families migrated but for so many years, Congress didn’t bother even as whole villages were deserted. The BJP’s double-engine government is making the Char Dham divine and grand while also ensuring all-weather connectivity,” said Modi. Taking a dig at the Congress’ poll slogan he said that the Congress knows only four works- all works aimed at benefitting one family, all works riddled with corruption, playing appeasement politics and stalling important projects for years to enable their leaders to exploit the same for personal gains. “I have a special place in my heart for Uttarakhand as I have lived here. I am here for you but if people who cause blocks come in between, what will my best of efforts achieve? When the UPA was in power and one of their leaders from Uttarakhand was also a minister at Centre, they spent only Rs 2,800 crore for roads in seven years. You blessed us in 2014 and we have spent Rs 33,000 crore for roads and highways in seven years. The double-engine government gave Rs 12,000 crore for Char Dham road project and with 90 per cent work done the Congress is now remembering the Char Dham. They did injustice to you and disrespected your basic facilities. Can you give them a chance or hand over the future of your children to them? I stay in Delhi but there is a large space for Uttarakhand in my heart. Compare our works with theirs also while casting your vote,” said the PM.
Keeping the focus of his speech on developments facilitated by the BJP and comparing the same to work done by the Congress governments, Modi said that modern infrastructure will greatly benefit tourism and pilgrimage in Uttarakhand. “We want to move forward but the Congress wants to push the nation back to the 20th century. Check what they want to do in Uttarakhand- they are blatantly talking of a university and giving proof of their appeasement politics. Wherever they have played appeasement politics, they have sown poison- see what they did in Kashmir. We announced the nation’s first digital university for all citizens in the budget. It will greatly help people of states like Uttarakhand and especially benefit the youth, the poor, deprived and daughters of the state,” he added.
