Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday unveiled a Rs 1 lakh crore package for the development of infrastructure in Punjab as he gave a booster shot to the BJP’s poll campaign in the state.
Addressing a virtual rally, the Prime Minister said that the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway would see an investment of Rs 40,000 crore in Punjab and was an example of developmental thrust that a “double-engine” BJP-led government could provide to the state.
Every homeless person would be provided with a house. Smuggling of drugs and weapons from across the border would be stopped, Prime Minister said as he referred to the problems confronted by the people of the state.
On agriculture, PM Modi said that the successive ruling parties had neglected this important section. Underground water was polluted and people were dying of cancer. Punjab farmers needed the food processing industry and cold store chains to help them diversify their crops and get a better price for their produce.
Modi expressed his keen desire to visit Punjab and said he would soon come to meet the people of Punjab.
According to a BJP press release LED screens were set up in all 18 constituencies and over 50,000 people participated in the virtual rally.
Remembering the sacrifice of Baba Zorawar Singh and Baba Fateh Singh, younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh, who were bricked alive by the Mughal emperor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched his first virtual rally for Punjab elections which votes on February 20.
Addressing voters of 18 Assembly seats of Fatehgarh Sahib and Ludhiana, Modi said that the BJP always stood by the Sikhs and respected their traditions while the Congress was responsible for the genocide of the Sikhs.
"We punished those who were behind the genocide," he added.
"We have worked to spread the Sikh faith worldwide and would continue to do so to spread the message of the Gurus," he said.
He said that his party and alliance partners stood for creating a 'Nawan Punjab' and they had the vision and a road map for the development of the state.
The Prime Minister reminded the people of Punjab that his government had opened the Kartarpur Sahib corridor for the Sikh pilgrims (on the Pakistan border) where Guru Nanak Dev spent 18 years of his life. The Congress could not retain the holy shrine in the country, he added
Modi promised to set up a border development authority for the uplift of border villages and also to constitute a commission to compensate those families who lost their members during days of terrorism. He lamented that some forces inimical to India fuelled terrorism in Punjab but Punjabis fought back to restore peace and brotherhood.
Punjab was always at the forefront to protect the country, he said, adding that the BJP would always stand by the 'rashtra bhakt' Punjabis.
Primes Minister said that he was fortunate that he had got an opportunity to do 'sewa' for the rich traditions of 'Punjabiat.'
"Do you think this election is only for choosing a Chief Minister or Ministers or MLAs?" PM Modi asked. “No”, he answered, these elections are for bringing Punjab out of poverty and confusion. NDA had come to Punjab with a commitment to bring around overall development,” he added.
Also read: BJP alliance unveils 11-point vision document for Punjab with major thrust on development
