Assembly polls: PM Modi begins BJP campaign, urges voters to rid Haryana of Congress

Karnal, Haryana: Continuing his Lok Sabha plank of ousting the Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday sought a clear mandate for the BJP in Haryana for putting the state on a growth trajectory.

Kicking off his party's poll campaign in Haryana, he hit out at the Congress for the state's backwardness.

Modi said that today the entire world was looking at India with greater respect and this had happened not because of him, but the power of 125 crore people of India, who had formed a strong and stable government at the Centre.

"Why has India's pride increased today? It is not because of Modi, it is because 125 crore people of India have formed a stable and strong government in Delhi. This is your magic not Modi's magic. Do you want that Haryana's name also echo around the world.

"Its first condition is that there should be 'Congress mukt Haryana'. The second that a stable government with full majority should be formed. And third, there should be a government which lets Modi work in Haryana," he said.

Attacking the ruling Congress in the state, Modi said that those who could not do anything for the last 60 years were now asking for his record in 60 days. "The people who could not do anything in 60 years, they are asking for my 60 day record," he said.

In his 30-minute address at a rally here, Modi, while describing the ruling Congress as "anti-farmer", was also critical of the party's claim that Haryana was No 1 State.

He said the state lagged behind in several parameters including literacy rate, per capita income, poverty alleviation, health, education, among others. Modi also launched a veiled attack on main opposition INLD, asking the people whether they would like the State being governed from jail.

INLD President and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala has been sentenced in the teachers recruitment scam. Chautala, who is out on bail on health grounds, had said that he would take oath as the next CM from Tihar Jail.

Seeking to connect with the farmers of the state, Modi hit out at the Congress for stating that the Centre had imposed ban on Basmati rice export.

"I am surprised that is it necessary to speak lies in polls. I do not need to tell, but you know all my farmer brother and sisters are being misled, you are being told that Centre has imposed a ban on Basmati rice export, which is 100 per cent lies and injustice to the farmers," he said.

Modi said Haryana was levying four per cent tax, which was fetching lesser price for Basmati growers.

Launching a scathing attack on the Congress over alleged land scams, Modi said thousands of acres of land had vanished and farmers were deprived of adequate compensation.

"Who has taken these lands, I want to ask you did you get compensation for your land. Where has the thousands of acres of land have gone, who has taken it," he said.

"Who is anti-farmer, you have to decide. We have to change this, for this I want a clear mandate in Haryana, make our candidates victorious.”

At the outset, Modi sought to strike an emotional chord with the people, saying he had come to Haryana to campaign, a day after the Vijay Dashmi festival was celebrated.

He said Haryana was the land of "Daanveer Karan", the land on which the Mahabharata battle was fought and holy Gita's message was delivered.

"This election will decide Haryana's future. I am sitting in your neighbourhood (Delhi)," Modi said.

Recalling the days he used to work in the State as a partyman, Modi said he wanted to repay the debt as he had received love and affection from the people here.

He told the people if they wanted employment, overall progress, development in villages, in cities, then change in Haryana was necessary.

"Do you want that I should serve you, I want your blessings for that and government with absolute majority, give me an opportunity to undertake development," he said.

Talking about the new route for Kailash Mansarovar yatra, he said the route existed even when Congress was in power but they had failed to do anything.

"Kailash Mansarovar was there when Congress government was there. But going there was very difficult. The work which Congress could not do, we did it in such a short time....we managed to make China understand and opened a second road to visit Kailash Mansoravar. And now one can visit Kailash Mansarovar by road," he said.

Modi also touched upon a number of schemes initiated by the Centre including Jan Dhan scheme. Elections to the 90-member Haryana Assembly will be held on October 15.

Haryana is set to witness a multi-corner contest with key players Congress, BJP, Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), Haryana Lokhit Party (HLP), BSP, Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC)-Jan Chetna Manch (JCM) alliance all set to cross swords.

In the last Assembly elections, Congress had won 40 seats, INLD 31, BJP 4, HJC-BL 6, SAD and BSP one each and seven seats had gone to Independents.

Attacking the ruling Congress in the state, Modi said those who could not do anything for the last 60 years were now asking for his record in 60 days.

Seeking to strike an emotional chord with the people of the state, Modi said, "I am starting the campaign from the land of 'Daanveer Karan', the land where holy Gita's message was delivered, I am starting this campaign from that land where battle of Mahabharata is connected with the victory of truth.”

He then went on to say that "what is more important, however, is that when I come to Haryana I feel like I have returned home, have come to be among my own people. This is the land where I spent my days, where I got political lessons".

Over 15 years back, Modi had been active in Haryana as a partyman.

Appealing voters to give BJP a clear mandate, Modi told them, "I am sitting in your neighbourhood, I am yours and I am there for you. But if I have to reach you, should there be any obstacle (non-BJP govt)...do you want that I should remain directly connected with Haryana, for that you make BJP government in the State. Only then can I have free access to you, otherwise if someone else is there, who knows how many obstacles will crop up.”

Again touching on the days he spent in Haryana earlier, Modi told the gathering, "I had said that I want to repay the debt to the people of Haryana. Will you give me clear mandate?".

He told the youth that time has come when they have to decide whether they want to have better lives and a better future.

"Do you want change, do you want employment, do you want peace and development in state, development in villages and cities, then change is a must in Haryana," said Modi, who is set to address a series of rallies in Haryana ahead of the polls.

Talking about the new route for Kailash Mansarovar yatra, he said the route existed even when Congress was in power but they had failed to do anything.

"Kailash Mansarovar was there when Congress government was there. But going there was very difficult. The work which Congress could not do, we did it in such a short time....we managed to make China understand and opened a second road to visit Kailash Mansoravar. And now one can visit Kailash Mansarovar by road," he said.