Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his first virtual rally for the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. The event was also attended remotely by UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma from Agra and Lucknow respectively. The ‘Jan Chaupal’ event is being broadcast across 98 mandals in 21 assembly seats in five districts of western Uttar Pradesh that are going to the polls in the first phase.
“This is the first virtual rally of BJP regarding Uttar Pradesh elections. Connecting so many people through technology in such a short span of time is the result of day and night hard work of BJP workers. This is proof of a vibrant organisation,” PM Modi noted at the beginning of his address.Lauding the Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Modi said that the state administration had made efforts to serve the people “with full sincerity”.
Five years ago, he contended, riots and chaos had been the norm. “Dabangg (strongmen) and dangai (rioters) used to run the show in UP. Their words were treated as government orders. People of western UP can never forget that when this region was burning in riots, the then government was celebrating,” he said.
“When I came to western UP at the time of elections five years ago, I told you that we will leave no stone unturned for the development of UP,” the PM added.
“The government which existed before 2017, was expert in making half-finished projects on paper and laying their foundation stones. Be it hospitals, roads, expressways, these people used to drag projects for years and years to keep earning. Those people only used to show dreams, the government of double engine fulfills dreams,” he added.
Modi also highlighted the developmental work undertaken by the current BJP government, contrasting it with predecessors. “While the previous government was able to build only a few thousand houses in the whole of UP, Yogi ji’s government has built 33 lakh houses in the last 5 years and given them to the poor,” he said.
The PM also highlighted the law against triple talaq that was introduced under the BJP-led administration, noting that it had benefited lakhs of Muslims. “Our government, which considers sons and daughters equal, is now trying to raise the age of marriage of daughters to 21 years. This will further help the daughters to fulfill their dreams,” he added.
Earlier, the Prime Minister had sought suggestions from the people, contending that public participation was an integral part of a strong democracy. “The strength of democracy lies in public participation and public trust. Your participation in the virtual rally to be held for 5 districts of Uttar Pradesh on 31st January is important. I request you to share your suggestions for this rally by visiting NaMo App,” he had tweeted.
