Bijnor, Feb 7 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reached out to farmers in western Uttar Pradesh and said those claiming the legacy of farmer leader and former Prime Minister Charan Singh were misleading the people. Virtually addressing a rally in Bijnor, Amroha and Moradabad, the Prime Minister also said the Yogi Adtiyanath government in Uttar Pradesh had forced criminals out of the state, adding that they were waiting for the government to change. Modi was scheduled to fly to Bijnor to attend the rally.
However, due to bad weather, the helicopter could not fly. He accused the Samajwadi Party of being “fake socialists” and said their return to power from assembly elections would mean a return of Mafia rule. Reaching out to farmers in western Uttar Pradesh, where the farmers’ protests have dented the BJP’s prospects, the Prime Minister said the BJP had tried to adopt Charan Singh’s ideas. “The Union and state governments are committed to give farmers their rights. Over Rs 1.5 lakh crore has been paid to sugarcane farmers in the last five years,” he told voters in the sugarcane belt. “Respecting every farmer is our aim.
Under earlier governments, farmers of UP have faced batons for demanding fertilizer. Those who showed such days to farmers when they were in power, can never do anything good for the farmers, they can only use them,” he said. “Those who are claiming the legacy of Charan Singh are misleading you.” Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party, which has emerged as the main opponent to the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, is in alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), a party founded by Chaudhary Charan Singh’s son Ajit Singh. Modi said compared to earlier governments, Yogi has procured double the amount of wheat on Minimum Support Price (MSP).
He also said there were attempts to mislead the farmers. “Those who are trying to mislead you today, you should ask them how much electricity they provided when they were in power. People used to talk about how lack of electricity is destroying the future of the youth. “They kept you in the dark so that crime increases, we gave electricity to push development,” he said. Modi also said eve teasing was common in UP under previous regimes and the Yogi government has given women freedom from this fear. He also talked about government schemes like Ujjwala, Ayushman Bharat, and the scheme to provide drinking water through taps to every home.
“People of UP understand who can develop the state… Earlier governments destroyed the image of UP, now it’s the first state of India with five international airports. This can only happen through double engine government of BJP,” he said. He said the criminals who have been controlled by the BJP government are waiting to make a comeback if a “favourable government” comes to power. “In Yogiji’s rule, criminals ran away and were shut in jails. They are waiting for the government to change so they can come out of jail. They are praying that the ‘mafia raj’ government returns,” he said.
“They want to take revenge from the people of UP. They want to divide people in the name of caste and stop the BJP,” he said urging people to vote for BJP. “If BJP comes to power, you will be safe, if they come, it will be a dream come true for criminals. When you cast your vote, remember that you are voting for the country. India can’t develop without development in UP. ” Western Uttar Pradesh which goes to poll in the first two phases of the seven phase election, is crucial for the BJP. The elections in Uttar Pradesh will take place on February 10, 14 , 20, 23, 27, March 3 and 7.
