New Delhi: Citing "track record" of BJP-ruled states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appealed to the electorate of Delhi to vote his party to power here if they want development rather than 'dharnas' as he lashed out at AAP as well as Congress.
He said both AAP and Congress had "forged friendship behind the curtains" last year to form a government in Delhi but as soon as polls were declared, they started competing each other in "spreading lies that could lead to sensation and give them some space in the media".
Addressing a rally in Dwarka in southwest Delhi, Modi emphasised that Delhi needs a government, which is "sensible" and "sensitive" to address the problems of the national capital.
Apparently targeting AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal without naming him, he said Delhi would suffer if the electorate vote for someone who is more interested in "dharnas" and "looking for space in TV media" than talking about issues to address them.
"Running a government is a serious task... Governments cannot be run by getting space in the media but getting a space in the hearts of people," the Prime Minister said.
While seeking a clear majority for BJP unlike the fractured majority in the last Assembly polls in 2013, he cited the "track record" of the states ruled by the party like Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
He also underlined that if a BJP government is formed in Delhi, its Chief Minister will have the "fear of Modi" and perform.
"Delhi needs a government with full majority. The government we can trust. If you vote in a BJP government, then those who will be here will be afraid of Modi and the central government. But if there is someone who does not have anyone above him, then that person will bring in only devastation," Modi said.
He said that "incomplete" mandate has already led to wastage of one year of Delhi's development, which has "set the state back by 25 years".
Modi said though the country was strong, the world could not recognise its strength because of the governments and the leaders who were in power.
"During the Lok Sabha elections, they joked about me and said who knows me outside Gujarat. When I started roaming the country and did election rallies, they said who recognises him in the world. They used to say what would happen to foreign policy... Modi does not know ABCD of foreign policy," he said.
"There was failure in the country's foreign policy because you (opposition) did not know the country's policy. When I go and meet the world, I forget I am Narendra Modi, I remember that behind me there is the strength of 125 crore people," Modi added.
Noting that his main focus was development, he said, "I want to tell the people of Delhi that the only medicine to all the problems is development. If there is development, there would be employment, change in lifestyle, children will get education, elders will get medicine. That is why we have decided to walk on the path of development."
The Prime Minister talked about local issues and said the problem of water scarcity in Dwarka has been solved after BJP came to power at the Centre.
"We decided to authorise all the colonies. I am not going to stop there. Now my responsibility and priority will be that all the services are provided in these colonies," Modi said.
Talking about the traffic problem in Dwarka, Modi said that Kiran Bedi has the expertise to easily sort that if BJP comes to power in Delhi. He also promised to ensure concrete houses for slum-dwellers.
The Prime Minister also talked about youth power and said India has emerged as a powerful country with a large youth population.
"My strength is that I know the people of this county. Similarly I want to take Delhi to new heights," he said, adding that Delhi is mini India as people from all parts of the country reside.
"Delhi is the symbol of country's pride," he said. Trying to woo Poorvanchali people, he said, "A person from Poorvanchal is the Prime Minister," in an apparent reference to his election from the Varanasi parliamentary seat.
"I had said that to develop India, we need all-round development. Only one area's development will not help the entire nation. Development in only some parts will not be the development of the country. If the country's west makes progress and Poorvanchal does not, this country will not develop," he said.
Asking people to vote for BJP, he said, "Give me an opportunity to serve you... to address your various problems. I can sit across a table and talk. Give me such a government in Delhi."
"Delhi wants a responsible and sensitive government...those who are connected to this land and have spent important years of their lives serving the common people of Delhi...Delhi needs people to can serve," he further said.
Modi said, "We seek your blessings based on our track record. Look at our track record. Look at the work of each of our governments... they have brought about a change in their states. Whenever we've had the opportunity of bringing about change in the lives of people, we have left no stone unturned.
