‘We promised & we abrogated Article 370’
*New technologies being installed for border protection
GUWAHATI/NEW DELHI, Apr 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said while his Government carried out ‘Operation Sindoor’ on terror camps in Pakistan, the Congress continued to “sing to the tune of” the neighbouring country.
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Addressing an election rally in Assam’s Barpeta district, he also accused the opposition party of taking a myopic view on development, while asserting that the BJP focuses on long-term growth.
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“The party always took short-term measures so that they could indulge in corruption. But the BJP looks far ahead while taking decisions for all-around development of all sections of society,” Modi said.
Modi alleged that during the 2016 surgical strikes or the 2025 ‘Operation Sindoor’, the Congress has always sung to Pakistan’s tune, giving importance to their agenda.
“This Pakistan connection always weighs heavily on the country (‘hamesha desh par bhari parta hain’), and we can never allow that,” he said.
Modi also accused the grand old party of neglecting the Army by refusing to implement the ‘One Rank, One Pension’ for the veterans for decades. But the BJP Government ensured that justice was done to those who protect the nation by giving them this benefit, he said.
“We have so far disbursed Rs 1.24 lakh-crore to the bank accounts of former Army personnel,” the Prime Minister said.
Addressing another rally in Hojai, Modi accused the Gandhi family of indulging in dynastic politics and corruption.
”The first family of Congress is the most corrupt in the country, indulging in scams of huge proportions and is currently out on bail,” he said.
The Congress can do only two things — tell lies and indulge in corruption, he added.
In an apparent swipe at Rahul Gandhi’s “mohabbat ki dukaan” remark, Modi said the Congress represents “mithya ki dukaan” (shop of lies) and “apmaan” (insult).
“There is another family in Assam … and both are making false promises ahead of the polls,” he said, in an apparent reference to Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi.
”The Congress is in power in Himachal, Karnataka and Telangana…they made tall promises before the polls, but what have they done so far?” he asked.
Modi urged people not to be taken in by the Congress’ false promises in Assam and vote for the BJP for a third successive term so that the journey of development can continue.
Referring to the global situation due to conflicts in West Asia, he said the Government is working to shield citizens, especially the poor, middle class and farmers, from its impact.
”It has been the BJP’s priority since the beginning to focus on minimising their sufferings, and this will continue,” he added.
He said peace was established in Assam after a lot of sacrifices and due to the BJP’s honest efforts in implementing the peace accords signed during the past 10 years.
“Peace and stability in the state have led to development under the BJP rule, and for it to continue, it is necessary to keep the Congress out (of power),” the Prime Minister said.
Wooing women voters, Modi said the 33 per cent quota for women in Parliament would be implemented from the 2029 general elections.
“A special session of Parliament has been convened on April 16 to discuss the issue with all parties and take this forward. But some people are trying to spread rumours even about this,” he said.
Meanwhile, Narendra Modi today said Uniform Civil Code and ‘One Nation, One Election’ are two of the unfinished agendas of the BJP. He said serious discussions are taking place on them, and positive strides have been made.
Virtually addressing an event on the BJP’s 47th Foundation Day, Modi also said it was the BJP that first raised the issue of women’s reservation in 1994, while the current BJP-led Central Government is fully committed to ensure that the Women’s Reservation Act — which would provide 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies — is implemented in the 2029 general elections.
Targeting the Congress, he said BJP workers endured many hardships — such as the Emergency and oppression — under the grand old party’s rule. Many BJP workers have even sacrificed their lives, he said, as witnessed in states like West Bengal and Kerala “where violence has been turned into a political culture”.
“Our mission is still ongoing. On Uniform Civil Code, ‘One Nation, One Election’ and other issues, serious discussions are taking place in the country, and we have achieved tremendous progress on those fronts,” he said.
Modi said the BJP aims to make the country developed and self-reliant, and it will continue to march in this direction.
Under the ‘One Nation, One Election’ system, the Modi government proposes to conduct simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The Uniform Civil Code seeks to create same set of laws for everyone across the country irrespective of religion, especially with regard to marriage, adoption, et cetera.
Modi said the BJP is sincerely striving to face every challenge.
“There are countless works that were the result of BJP’s honest efforts, such as ending hundreds of black laws from the British era, the construction of a new Parliament building, 10 per cent reservation for the poor in the general category, triple talaq ban, the Citizenship Amendment Act, the construction of Ayodhya Ram temple,” he said.
The Prime Minister said it was the BJP that had proposed women’s reservation for the first time in 1994 in Vadodara.
“We had also decided that we would encourage women in our party organisation as far as possible. When we came to power, we fulfilled that promise. Now we are fully dedicated to ensuring that the Nari Vandan Adhiniyam (Women’s Reservation Act) is implemented in the 2029 general elections,” he said.
Referring to the ongoing West Asia conflict, Modi said the BJP believes in the idea of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ (the world is one family) even in times of war.
He said there was a time when India took pride in maintaining equal distance from every country, but now it is moving ahead by keeping close relations with each country.
Highlighting that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has completed 25 years of existence, Modi said it is the only coalition that has been working for the interests of the country and the welfare of its people.
“The BJP has set an example in coalition politics. The consistent expansion of the NDA is proof that it is an all-inclusive coalition. It works by prioritising regional aspirations,” he said.
Modi said people have seen dynastic politics, which is still prevalent in some parts of the country, and the Left governance model, but the BJP’s governance model is unique.
“Under our governance model, policies and governments are stable,” he said.
Modi said the BJP has its own agenda and aims, and besides handling the current crisis, the party-led Government is preparing the country for the future.
“Works are ongoing on issues such as the demographic change, infiltration, corruption, dynastic politics, and freeing people from the slave mentality. The BJP has to make the country free from all these challenges. This responsibility can be fulfilled only by the BJP,” he said.
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370 (which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir) in 2019, Modi said that for decades, the law was a hurdle in fully integrating Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country.
“People thought it was impossible to scrap Article 370, but we had promised to abrogate it. We have completed the task,” he said. Modi said the BJP has been maintaining a consistent stand on issues like national security and terrorism, and now new technologies are being installed for border security, the border villages are being developed, and the backbone of Naxals has been crushed.
Earlier, in an X post, Modi greeted BJP workers on the party’s foundation day.
The BJP was formed on April 6, 1980.
“Our party has always been at the forefront of serving society, guided by the principle of India First. Our ‘karyakartas’ are known for their selfless service, unwavering dedication and a deep passion towards good governance. They have worked tirelessly at the grassroots, ensuring maximum people are connected to our ideology and work. We also remember the countless workers whose dedication, sacrifice and perseverance have shaped the party’s growth over decades,” he said. (PTI)
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