PM Modi attacks AAP, Congress: ‘World watching one corrupt cover another’

He met refugee families who have been granted Indian citizenship following notification of CAA rules.

As many as 25 diplomats from 13 countries including the UK, Australia and Russia were part of the gathering as ‘Observers of Indian Democracy’.

Although he did not name the AAP, Modi attacked its alliance with the Congress in Delhi and Haryana.

“Earlier, the Congress used to claim credit for exposing the excise scam in press conference after press conference. Then, at the orders of the Shahi Parivar, they embraced the same corrupt leader…Dilli, Haryana mein dosti aur Punjab mein kushti…yeh dhong kab tak chalega? Duniya dekha rahi hai ki kaise ek bhrashtachari doosre bhrashtachari ko cover de raha hai (In Delhi, Haryana, you are friends but in Punjab you are wrestling with each other. How long will this hypocrisy last? The world is watching how one corrupt person is covering the other),” he said.

Without naming the AAP or its convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Modi attacked the party for “betraying the trust of millions” by emerging as a force against the issue of corruption but now being discovered to be behind “corruption worth crores” which was sending its leaders behind bars.

“There was a time when the Congress ruled the country, but now struggles to even compete on four (Lok Sabha) seats in Delhi. They cannot field a candidate in the constituency where its Shahi Parivar lives but still the Congress’s arrogance remains,” he said.

From the G20 Summit to electric buses, Modi said the BJP-led Centre, during the 10 years of his tenure, sought to enhance both the image of New Delhi as the country’s Capital as well as its infrastructure.

“Delhi should not only be developed, but also look developed… During the G20 summit, the world’s top leaders were amazed at what they witnessed… Now we have Bharat Mandapam and Yashobhoomi, and the new Parliament building enhances our pride… It took Modi to come for the construction of the National War Memorial and Police Memorial. Government after government in Delhi did not feel the need,” he said.

“In my 10-year tenure, we have tried to make the lives of middle class families in Delhi better, happier… Delhi’s 80 km of national highways increased to over 160… The length of 4-lane highways has doubled… The Delhi Metro’s network has doubled, Namo trains have given the NCR a new image,” he said, adding that the Centre was working towards regularisation of unauthorised colonies on the one hand and, on the other, giving homes to those residing in the city’s slums.

But the INDIA bloc’s “politics of appeasement”, he said, was seeking to bring about Delhi’s “destruction” by engaging in “vote Jihad” and “dividing communities” on the basis of religion.

“When CAA came, they first held the city to ransom for two months and then triggered riots… before the 2014 elections, the Congress… to appease its vote bank, transferred 123 significant heritage properties located at prime locations in Delhi belonging to its people to the Waqf Board,” he said.

“This opportunistic alliance does not step back from inciting violence for the sake of appeasement, endangering communal harmony and sacrificing national stability… Refugees from persecuted families living in Delhi for years are now receiving Indian citizenship… The INDI Alliance cries for infiltrators and looks down on those who were victims of crimes in 1947,” he said.

Asking whether Delhi should “forgive such people”, the Prime Minister said, “They want to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision on Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, they openly declare they will bring back Article 370, that they will disarm India’s nuclear weapons. Should such a dangerous alliance be given even a single vote? While casting your vote, keep the goal of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ in mind,” he said.