‘Stage set for BJP hat-trick in Haryana’: PM flags Cong ‘infighting’ at Kurukshetra rally

Expressing confidence about the BJP’s victory in the polls, Modi said: “My Parliament colleague (Kurukshetra MP) Naveen (Jindal) ji was telling me that I should look at Haryana’s 50-year history. There is a uniqueness – whichever government exists in Delhi, Haryana also forms the same government in the state… The kind of enthusiasm I am witnessing here – my political experience tells me that Haryana has decided to ensure a hat-trick of the BJP here.”

Modi also took aim at the Opposition Congress and the factionalism within the party. “First, the Congress should take care of its internal Mahabharat (infighting). The manner in which the Congress is projecting and promoting one family (Hoodas), all of Haryana is watching.”

The PM also challenged the Congress to implement pro-farmer policies in Telangana and Karnataka, where it is in power. “The Congress talks big about farmers. The truth is that it is nothing but a bunch of lies. If the Congress has the power, it should implement its farmer policies in Telangana and Karnataka. Farmer is a farmer, be it of Haryana or Karnataka. Why doesn’t Congress implement its farmer policies there?” he asked.

“Look at what is happening in Karnataka. In some months of their tenure in Karnataka, there have been 1,200 suicides by farmers. Doob maro Congress ke logo. Aapke muh mein kisan ke naam pe jhoot failane ka paap pada hua hai. (The Congressmen should be ashamed. You have committed a sin by spreading lies in the name of farmers),” Modi said.

Accusing the Congress of being allegedly “anti-Dalit”, Modi cited several incidents that had occurred under the previous Congress governments in Haryana. “Who other than Haryana knows Congress’s anti-Dalit face? A kand (atrocity) took place in Gohana in 2005, who can forget Mirchpur kand of 2010 and what happened to Dalit daughters in 2014 – it sends shivers down the spine. At the time, CM (Bhupinder) Hooda ji, Congress ka shaahi parivaar (royal family), all had their lips sealed,” he said.

The PM also repeated a refrain from the Lok Sabha campaign, alleging that the Congress was out to end reservation. “(The Congress has) recently said if they come to power, they will abolish reservation for Dalits, backwards. This is the reality of this Congress family… But this family of the Congress should listen to my words that till Modi is in power, he won’t let any loot from the Constitution of Babasaheb Ambedkar. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said.

Modi also projected the BJP’s record on creating jobs. “During the Congress’s tenure, nobody was getting a job without parchi and kharchi (favouritism). The BJP government abolished this system (and) gave 1.5 lakh government jobs with transparency… After October 8, the BJP government shall be formed and (recruitment for 25,000 jobs) will be the first task of the new government,” he said.

He also hit out at the Congress over its promise to restore the old pension scheme (OPS) for the government employees. “The Congress’s politics has become limited to false promises and false agenda tactics. Now, they have stopped talking about the OPS when their lies were caught. On the other hand, it is the BJP that has brought a new pension scheme that guarantees pensions for retirees. This has been welcomed by government employees across the country,” the PM said. He added that his government’s implementation of the one rank, one pension (OROP) scheme has benefited 13 lakh ex-servicemen in Haryana.