In a 50,000 capacity ground that was packed beyond capacity with people climbing trees and walls, the Prime Minister reached the venue amid roars of Modi Modi Modi with dance and fanfare taking centrestage before he started to speak.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lashed out at Samajwadi Party (SP) government on various aspects of governance throwing an open challenge to come up with an an audit of the development work done by them in the past five years. Addressing the "Parivartan Sankalp Rally" in Ghaziabad, three days ahead of the first phase of assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, he vowed that he will stun the opposition with his report card in 2019 before the Lok Sabha polls.
In a 50,000 capacity ground that was packed beyond capacity with people climbing trees and walls, the Prime Minister reached the venue amid roars of Modi Modi Modi with dance and fanfare taking centrestage before he started to speak.
He unleashed his attack on the incumbent Akhilesh Yadav for poor governance in the state over the last five years in dealing with spiraling corruption, unemployment, lapses in women security and increasing rate of farmer suicides in his 45 minute speech.
"There is a widespread corruption in employment sector. Youngsters are not getting jobs without giving bribe in the state and the government is giving shelter to goons," Modi said as the crowd cheered on.
Lands of poor farmers and middle-class people have been snatched sway by land mafias in the state," he added.
Among thousands of people who attended the rally, was a first-year graduation student Rikshita Sharma, who came to attend the rally with her family. "I'm going to exercise my righ to vote for the first time. So, I'm here to see what promises would they make for the development of education sector in Uttar Pradesh and specifically in our district Ghaziabad," she said.
On being asked how do students in Uttar Pradesh evaluate the present SP government for their work in development, she said "Students are really happy with the work done by SP government in the education sector. They distributed laptops to poor and needy students. So, SP is the most preferred party among first time voters."
Taking a dig at SP-Congress alliance, he said that Samajwadi Party was scared of losing the election and that's why they stepped in a "sinking boat". "Only those who are scared step in a sinking boat," Modi said.
"Today, women feel unsafe to venture out in the dark. Even girls are scared of going to schools alone. This is because the ruling party has been nursing the criminals in UP," he said.
"When Akhilesh took over as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, we thought he would do wonders in the field of development but he has disappointed everyone. He has destroyed the state in the last five years," Modi said
He promised of forming a special task force to ensure the lands looted from farmers and middle-class people would restored. "I can't fight for Uttar Pradesh's development sitting in Delhi. The people of UP have to remove this corrupt government to end this 14-years long "Vikas ka Vanwas" in the sate," he said.
Amid sloganeering and dancing, a large group of women laboureres also attended the rally. "Whoever comes in power, it hardly makes any change in our lives. We came here to see what Modi ji has for us in his bucket list," said Sunita, a daily-wager of Ghaziabad.
"We want the next government to take some steps for better health facilities for women in the state," she added.
Modi might be banking on development to pull a spectacular victory but for several voters in the state caste and religion are still the driving forces that can make or break the election.
"UP ka chunav to dharm and jaat par hi lada jata aaya hai and aagey bhi us par lada jayega," (In UP election is won on religion and caste) said Mansi, a 50 year old house wife present at the venue.
A security lapse has been reported at Prime Minister's rally in Ghaziabad. According to sources, among several BJP leaders, who went to receive the Prime Minister at the Helipad, there were some reportedly present there without the passes. In fact, a BJP leader was found to be present there on someone else's pass. "Only 18 BJP members were issued the passes even as only ten of them had received them," the sources said, adidng one BJP leader was reportedly carrying the remaining eight passes on him.
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