Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (January 5, 2025) made the “We will not tolerate disaster, will bring change” pitch against the Aam Aadmi Party as he addressed a gathering of thousands at Japanese Park in Sector – 10, Rohini, ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections due this year. Multiple leaders and MPs shared the grand stage with Mr. Modi at the BJP’s Parivartan rally.
Later in the day, AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal retorted by raising multiple promises that, he said, the Central government has not fulfilledand because of which Delhi’s development has stopped. He said that the PM is only interested in abusing him, and that the AAP is still working with the Centre on different development projects, as the Centre governs half of Delhi since it is not a full state, for the benefit of the people of Delhi.
At the rally, Mr. Modi said, “For the elections, the Delhi BJP has brought forward promising faces. Now, the dreams of the poor and the middle class will be fulfilled in Delhi. For youth, there will be a promising future with opportunities, and I am confident that lotus (the party symbol) is going to bloom in Delhi Assembly elections….”
In his appeal to the people of Delhi, he said, “I am here, to appeal to the people of Delhi to give an opportunity to BJP for Delhi’s bright future as it is the BJP that can develop Delhi. In the last 10 years, the government that Delhi has seen is no less than AAP-DA (disaster), and now we can only hear AAP-DA nahi sahenge, badal ke rahenge (We will not tolerate disaster, will bring change) in Delhi. The people of Delhi want development and have trust in BJP…”
PM builds on ‘sheesh mahal’
The PM further said, “We’re in 2025, a quarter of a century has passed, and during this time, probably 2-3 generations of youth in Delhi have grown up. But now, the upcoming 25 years are important for India’s future, and Delhi’s future. In these 25 years, India will become a developed nation, and we will be able to see this journey of developed India before our eyes. We will see India passing through a new phase of modernity. India will become the third largest economic power in the world. It is very important that our Delhi, the capital of the country, walks step by step in this journey. We must develop Delhi as the capital of a developed India…”
Mr. Modi targeted Mr. Kejriwal for building a ‘sheesh mahal’ (glass palace) for himself, referring to the controversy surrounding alleged irregularities in the renovation of the CM’s official residence. He said, “Today, entire Delhi is proud of Bharat Mandapam, Yasho Bhoomi, Kartavya Path. However, I feel sad that the AAP-DA government wasted 10 years of the people of Delhi. Today, a newspaper even revealed the expenditure on the ‘sheesh mahal’ based on a CAG report. When the people of Delhi were fighting COVID, these people were focused on building a ‘sheesh mahal.’ They are not bothered about the people of Delhi…”
He said the AAP government left no stone unturned in destroying Delhi’s transport system. “They did not pay attention to the maintenance of buses, and the common people suffered the loss… look at the condition they have created. When it’s summer, the Delhi people fight over drinking water; when it rains, streets are waterlogged; and in winter, it gets difficult to breathe in polluted air,” he said.
“The energy of the people of Delhi is being spent on dealing with AAP-DA government 365 days a year. Hence, only when the AAP-DA is removed from Delhi, the double engine of development and good governance will follow. The AAP-DA government did not even implement the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana properly here; it created hurdles in building permanent houses for the poor. Around 30,000 houses built under old schemes are lying vacant. They did not allot these houses to the people of Delhi…,” Mr. Modi said.
Spend at least 4 minutes to address issues: Kejriwal
Addressing a press conference later in the day, Mr. Kejriwal said, “The Prime Minister spoke for 38 minutes, and out of those 38 minutes, he spent about 29 minutes abusing the people of Delhi and the elected government of Delhi. He selectively hurled abuses. I was watching and I felt very bad. People expect that the Prime Minister will provide a vision for the country, a vision for Delhi, or announce some major initiatives.”
He also said that Delhi’s 2041 Master Plan (by the Delhi Development Authority under the Central government) is still awaiting notification, which has completely stalled Delhi’s development. “Why is it not being notified? Why is the Central government not notifying it? The lack of notification for the Delhi Master Plan 2041 has halted all development in Delhi. I want to tell the Prime Minister that you can abuse us as much as you like. Out of 38 minutes, you abused us for 29 minutes. Next time, take 25 minutes for abuse and use the remaining 4 minutes to address these issues and share your thoughts on them,” he said.
Grand rally
Meanwhile, the Japanese Park where the PM’s rally took place, resembled a saffron sea on the sunny winter afternoon as BJP supporters from across Delhi assembled there. People flocked to the rally by the metro, buses, e-rickshaws, autos, bikes and even cars, and Rohini was covered in BJP flags, fliers, posters, and banners on all sides. The Japanese Park, located amid multiple neighbourhoods, had people edging over windows to get a glimpse of the Prime Minister.
Supporters during a rally addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rohini area, ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections in New Delhi on January 5, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
As Mr. Modi addressed, the crowed cheered with claps, waving their flags in the air and smiling for the cameras installed at multiple points. As he said the “AAP-DA nahi sahenge”slogan multiple times, the crowd followed it up shouting “nahi sahenge” with loud cheer.
At the rally, the BJP had set up replicas of ‘Palace of Corruption – Sheesh Mahal’ around entry gates. These became a major attraction and selfie points. Around the replica, the figures of the alleged amount of money spent on building the residence were displayed, on top of open vehicles. Visitors clicked photos and selfies with their families. Posters having faces of political leaders, including caricatures of Mr. Kejriwal, covered the streets leading to the venue of the rally.
Men, women, and children from across age groups attended the rally.
Shivam Thakur, who is 20 and voted for the first time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, came to the rally with his 59-year-old mother, who struggled to walk, from Sector 15. Agreeing with PM’s speech, he said, “In our colony, people have to fight for water; it’s dirty and we can’t drink that; we have been forced to buy water. The promises made by Mr. Kejriwal fell flat, and none of them were delivered,” he said.
Published – January 05, 2025 10:25 pm IST