At rally in Abohar, Modi accuses Channi, Kejriwal of playing divisive, separatist politics

The PM also attacked Kejriwal over purported revelations made by Kumar Vishwas, a co-founder of the Aam Aadmi Party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses an election campaign rally for Punjab Assembly elections. (PTI)

Referring to allegations made by former AAP leader Kumar Vishwas that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was resorting to separatist politics to grab power in Punjab, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that the AAP “can even align with the separatists and anti-nationals”, and that “they speak the same language as that of Pakistan”.

“That is why they questioned the valour of our soldiers and doubted the surgical strikes,” he said, addressing a rally in Abohar. “I warn people of Punjab against the designs of such people…who are out to divide the country and push it back into dark days. Their intentions are most dangerous.”

Referring to Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s “UP, Bihar and Delhi de bhaiye” remark, Modi said people with such “divisive thoughts” have insulted the Gurus and do not have the right to rule the state.

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Modi said: “By such statements, they not only insulted the people of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar but also Guru Ravidas and Guru Gobind Singh. Where was Guru Ravidas, whose birth anniversary was celebrated yesterday, born? Was he born in Punjab? He was born in Uttar Pradesh’s Kashi; and you will not let ‘bhaiya’ of UP to enter here? Will you throw out Ravidassias (followers of Guru Ravidas)? Will you erase Sant Ravidas’s name?”

Modi pointed out that Guru Gobind Singh was born in Patna Sahib in Bihar — “and you say you will not let people of Bihar enter? Will you then insult Guru Gobind Singh-ji?…”

In apparent reference to Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was present when Channi made the remarks during a roadshow in Rupnagar, Modi said, “The entire country has seen…the Punjab CM made the remark and his leader, who was standing beside him, was clapping”.

He said, “People with such divisive thoughts do not have the right to govern Punjab even for a moment.”

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He also said Kejriwal was seeking votes of Punjabis and Sikhs, but has never appointed a Sikh minister in his government during the last eight years that AAP has been in power in Delhi.

Referring to the recommendations of the Swaminathan Commission report, he said it was his government which implemented them. “History is witness that the Congress has always betrayed farmers,” Modi said.

Attacking the Congress government in Punjab, Modi said every trade has been captured by the mafia and nobody was ready to make investments here.

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