Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other NDA leaders during an election campaign rally ahead of Lok Sabha polls, in Meerut, Sunday, March 31, 2024.
Credit: PTI Photo
Lucknow: Prime minister Narendra Modi on Sunday dubbed the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls as a fight between two groups—one trying to root out corruption (NDA) and the other trying to ''save the corrupt' (I.N.D.I.A.) bloc—as he launched his election campaign invoking Lord Rama and showcasing his government's developmental works in different fields.
Addressing an election meeting at Meerut, Modi also referred to the scrapping of Article 370 and the law against triple talaq, in an apparent bid to garner support from Muslim women.
''Main bhrashtachar par karwai kar raha hoon to kuch log boukhala gayen hain....mai kehta hoon bhrashtachar hatao, wey kahte hain bhrashtachari ko bachao...ye chunav inhi do khemo ki ladai hai'' (Some people are rattled by action against corruption....I say root out corruption...they (opposition) say save the corrupt...this election is a fight between these two groups) he said.
The prime minister focused his attack on the grand opposition alliance—I.N.D.I.A.—which also held a 'Loktantra Bachao' rally in Delhi on Sunday, and said that they think they would be able to 'scare' him but it would not happen. ''I am determined to continue my fight against corruption and this is the reason many corrupt people are behind the bars'', he added.
''These corrupt people are not getting bail and they have been making rounds of courts....you (people) must have seen on TV that wades of currency are being recovered from under the bed, inside the walls and even inside the washing machines'', Modi said.
Modi, who was accompanied by BJP alliance partner Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) president Jayant Choudhary, also slammed the opposition for 'opposing' the Bharat Ratna award to former prime minister Choudhary Charan Singh, Jayant's grand father.
The prime minister also referred to the Ram Temple and said that there was a time when it looked impossible that a Ram Temple would ever be built in Ayodhya. ''Not only was the Ram Temple built but this year Ram Lalla also played Holi,'' he added.
Apparently keeping an eye on the support of Muslim women, Modi referred to the law and triple talaq and said that it had been able to save the lives of thousands of ''Muslim sisters''.
He also referred to the scrapping of Article 370 and said that the state of Jammu & Kashmir was witnessing speedy development now.
''This election is not merely to elect a government but to make a developed India...the mandate of 2024 will help India emerge as the third biggest economic power in the world,'' the prime minister said.
BJP nominee from Meerut LS seat Arun Govil, who had played the role of Lord Rama in Ramayana serial, was also present on the stage.