Punjab elections: PM Modi slams Channi for 'UP, Bihar ke bhaiyas' remark, says Congress pits people of one region against another

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday slammed Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh

Channi

for his "UP, Bihar ke bhaiyas" remark and accused the Congress of pitting people of one region against another.

The PM also targeted Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi who was present by the side of Channi when he made the remark.

“The Congress CM gave a statement that received claps from a member of the Delhi family. Who are they insulting with such statements? There is not one village in Punjab where people from UP-Bihar don't toil. The Congress pits people of one region against another," PM Modi said at an election rally in Punjab’s Abohar.

Channi, while addressing a poll rally on Tuesday, had said that Punjabis must get together to oust the leaders from UP, Bihar and Delhi who come here to rule. The Punjab CM made the controversial remarks in the presence of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, whom he referred to as daughter-in-law of Punjab. The video clip of Channi’s remarks at Ropar had gone viral.

Addressing the Abohar rally, the PM went on to refer to the UP-Bihar links with Punjab, mentioning Guru Gobind Singh and Sant Ravidas who were born in Bihar and UP respectively. “Where was Guru Gobind Singh born? In Patna Sahib, Bihar. You say that won't let people of Bihar come in. So, will you insult Guru Gobind Singh too,” PM Modi asked.

“Was Sant Ravidas born in Punjab? He was born in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. You (Congress) say that won't let the 'bhaiyas' of Uttar Pradesh enter Punjab. So will you turn away Sant Ravidas too? Will you erase his name? What language do you use," PM Modi asked.

The PM further accused the Congress of betraying the farmers by sitting on the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission.

“History is witness that the Congress has always betrayed farmers. There was a long pending demand to implement the recommendations of Swaminathan Commission but its government sat on those files and kept on lying to the citizens,” PM Modi said.

He said that after forming the government at the Centre, it was the BJP, which implemented the recommendations.

The PM went on recount the NDA government schemes like Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, under which more than 75,000 houses were being built in Punjab.

"Punjab alone has been given an amount of more than Rs 2,000 crore for pucca houses. Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, the central government has deposited Rs 3,700 crore directly in the bank accounts of farmers of Punjab. About 23 lakh farmers of the state have benefited from the scheme, he said, added it was in his government's time that there was a record purchase of food grains.

PM Modi, however, said that because of the Congress government's state policies, nobody was ready to make investments in Punjab.

Urging voters to bring the BJP-led alliance to power in the state for its all-round development, the PM said that today Punjab needs a government that draws inspiration from patriotism and development. “The BJP has come before you with the dedication and resolve to provide security and development to Punjab,” said PM Modi, alleging that every trade in Punjab is captured by mafia.

The prime minister further said one voice is coming out in entire Punjab, and that is to make the BJP-led alliance victorious and form a “double engine” government.

"Double engine government means speedy progress. It means weeding out sand mafia and drug mafia from the state. The double engine government means flourishing of trade, giving jobs and creating new avenues of self-employment," Modi said.

"Give one chance to us, give me five years and then see how the double engine government takes Punjab on a speedy path of development," he said.

He also raised concerns about Pakistan keeping an eye on the bordering state.

“Punjab is already facing several challenges, we don’t want to add ‘asthirta’ (instability). “But the Congress is trying to make the state unstable.”

He didn’t even spare Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), calling it the Congress’s “partner in crime”. “The party, which is in power in Delhi, is knocking at Punjab’s doors by spreading canards and saying mythical things. They want to support separatists... break India,” the PM alleged.

Punjab goes to polls on February 20.

(With inputs from agencies)