(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday made a slew of promises to the people of Delhi, including round-the-clock power, housing for all, electricity portability, and targeted Arvind Kejriwal for his "anarchist" remarks and asked voters to punish the AAP in the upcoming assembly election in the capital.
Launching the Bharatiya Janata Party's election campaign at Ramlila Maidan here, Modi sought the people's support for a "new" Delhi and a "strong, stable" government.
The rally, for which the BJP had made elaborate arrangements, was attended by some union ministers and the party's chief ministers of Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Haryana where the party recorded unprecedented success in the last six months.
Modi, who spoke for about 35 minutes, targeted the Congress but focused mainly on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Modi did not name Kejriwal or the AAP but accused the party of spreading lies. Attacking Kejriwal for his "anarchist" remark, Modi said "if anarchy has to be practised, (he should) join Naxalites (Maoists) in jungles".
Modi wondered if people had seen a politician who spoke such language. "Anarchy cannot prevail in Delhi. It (Delhi) should have a sense of pride," he said. AAP leader Yogendra Yadav later responded to Modi's comments, saying: "It seems the prime minister is scared of our popularity."
The AAP finished close behind the BJP in the 2013 Delhi polls and won 28 seats. The party is seen as the main rival of the BJP in the assembly election expected to be held next month.
BJP chief Amit Shah, whom Modi described as the "most successful" party president, asked the opposition to "respect the mandate of the people" in the Rajya Sabha and defended the ordinances brought by the central government.
He said black money stashed abroad was a "complex" issue but the Modi government was doing its best to bring it back. Modi said a rumour was being spread that a BJP government will bring down the retirement age of government officials in Delhi to 58 from 60.
"People of Delhi, a new lie will be manufactured every day. To misguide, spread lies, this is their way of politics. Modi is not a person who will ever back stab. If lies are spread, do not believe them," he said.
Referring to Kejriwal resigning from office after 49 days in power, Modi said a year was wasted in Delhi. "Those who destroyed a year, will you punish them?" he asked the gathering.
Referring to the AAP's agitational politics, he said people specialise in a particular task and that should be given to them. "Those who have specialisation in blocking roads, staging sit-ins, launching agitations, give them that work. Our specialisation is in running a good government. Give us that task," Modi said.
The prime minister alleged that the past governments in Delhi had done little for the poor and were indecisive.
He said the BJP government at the centre has taken measures to solve the water woes of Delhi and nearly 20 lakh bank accounts of the poor in the national capital have been opened under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMGDY).
Referring to corruption at the grassroots level, Modi said he has started the work of cleaning from the top and will ensure that it goes down to the lowest level.
On the AAP's promise to bring down the power tariff, he said it can be done only if there is proper electricity supply.
Modi said the government will ensure that there was no need of generators in the city by ensuring round-the-clock power and the initiative will also help reduce pollution. He said a BJP government will also provide people with power bill portability and they can choose the company from which they want electricity.
"This will ensure competition and bring down prices. "There is solution to every problem. Intentions should be honest. Delhi wants solution to its problems," he said. Modi said the poor and slum dwellers in the national capital will have a house by 2022. "It is a huge task. If small tasks were to be done, people would not have brought me (to power)," he said. The BJP has been out of power in the capital for the last 16 years.
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