Punjab land of Guru Nanak, won’t let anyone stop people of UP, Bihar from coming here: Rajnath Singh

“Main dekhta hu kiski himmat hai jo UP, Bihar ke logo ko nahi aange denge (Let me see who dares to stop people of UP and Bihar from coming to Punjab). Hamare Guru Nanak kehte hain ki sabka bhala karo aur ye Bharat ko tukdo mein baantna chahte hain (Our Guru Nanak says we should work for the welfare of all and they want to disintegrate this country into pieces),” said Rajnath Singh.

He further said that if anyone would touch or try to harm his ‘Punjabi brothers’ in Uttar Pradesh, then he would be dealt with in an appropriate manner. “Saara desh ek hai (The entire country is one),” he said.

Rajnath said that Sikhs were the ‘antar-atma’ of the country who had made immense contributions to nation-building and national security.

“How can we forget Maharaja Ranjit Singh. If he covered Amritsar’s Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in gold, then he did the same for Kashi Vishwanath Mandir in Varanasi. Guru Gobind Singh, Guru Teg Bahadur Singh — these great Gurus gave their lives but did not let our country’s head bow in front of injustice,” he said.

Targeting AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, the Union minister said that the AAP government in Delhi was opening liquor shop in every nook and corner of the capital, while it talked about eradicating drugs in Punjab.

“We will see who darees to do drug business in Punjab if we [the BJP] comes to power. The Congress and the AAP are spreading false information that the SAD-BJP are joining hands again. We are not,” he said.

While talking about the Central government’s welfare schemes, Rajnath asked farmers if they were getting Rs 6000 in their bank accounts under the PM-KISAN scheme.

‘Makaan mila ya nahi (Did you get houses or not),” he asked and when some attendees responded in negative, Rajnath tried to defend former CM Captain Amarinder Singh, whose party Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) is now BJP’s ally, and said, “Captain sahib is a very honest and good person. His party must have pressurized, and forced him not to implement Central schemes in Punjab. Ultimately he left the Congress.”

“We will give shelter to every homeless and water connection in every house in Punjab like we did in UP, Bihar, MP,” he said.

“Channi says I am very gareeb. But his own party leaders have exposed him that he is a crorepati,” he said.
He said that before 2014, no one used to take India seriously on international platforms but now ‘everyone listens when India speaks.’

“Countries like France, Australia, China — all are fighting Covid till now. But steps taken by the Modi government to fight the pandemic are being appreciated all over the world. Even in the US, people are struggling to get the vaccine. But we have not only manufactured vaccines and vaccinated our people but are exporting doses too,” he said.

Hailing Punjabis for sending their sons in the Army, the defence minister said, “When I go to the borders, I listen to ‘Jo Bole so nihaal, Sat Sri Akal..’ and our chest swell with pride,” he said.

Rajnath said that the decision to conduct ‘surgical and airstrikes inside Pakistan’ following Uri and Pulwama incident was taken ‘within ten minutes’ by PM Narendra Modi.