Page 28 - Tehelka Issue 15 August 2018

• Fund flows Modi inaugurates
rime Minister projects worth 60,000 crores in UP
Narendra Modi
and BJP chief Amit Rather, they were interested in
Shah have taken building their own bungalows.”
P the overall com- The BJP’s first Prime
mand of Uttar Pradesh to take Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee
the political battle from the conceptualised the develop-
Parliament to the streets of this Modi happy to be a ment model of Lucknow as its
crucial state. BJP is strategising representative in parliament
to portray the image of Modi as and inspired by his perception,
a face of a transforming India ‘bhagidar’ of poor Modi continued his vision in
and growing economy despite developing 100 smart cities
severe attacks from opposition in the different states of India.
across the country, especially At the inauguration of 60,000 crore investment Marking the third anniversary
from the traditional citadel of of three key government initia-
Nehru-Gandhi scion. projects in Lucknow, the prime minister countered tives related to urban develop-
Sharply countering the the ‘chowkidar-bhagidar’ remark by Congress Chief ment — Pradhan Mantri Awas
attack from his opponents Yojana (Urban), Atal Mission
during thedebate on no-con- by calling it a compliment, reports Mudit Mathur for Rejuvenation of Urban
fidence motion, Modi openly Transformation (AMRUT) and
drew parallel with Mahatma it better,” he smilingly stared at Parliament, Rahul Gandhi said, the Smart Cities Mission, he
Gandhi. “As Gandhi Ji was him in the audience. “A person who had pledged inaugurated 99 development
never scared of residing with The presence of saffron before the nation that he will schemes worth 3,897 crore on
industrialist Birla family, I too dressed expelled Samajwadi uphold their trust as ‘chowk- the occasion.
find nothing wrong in associat- MP Amar Singh surprised idar’ (watchman) has virtually The political importance of
ing with industrialists. I am not everyone in the political circle betrayed and actually become UPcould be gauged from the
scared of doing so,” Modi was about his new found love with ‘bhagidar’ (shareholder).” fact that ever since BJP lost Lok
speaking at the inauguration of the prime minister because Retaliating to Rahul’s com- Sabha by-election due to sud-
81 investment projects worth he was once a trusted aide ment at the Lucknow event, den formation of BSP-SP Con-
60,000 crores in Lucknow. and master strategist of Sa- Modi said, “Now there are gress alliance, Prime Minister
Galaxy of top industrialists majwadi patriarch Mulayam charges on me that I am not organised five official functions
participated in the event to Singh Yadav. a ‘chowkidar’ but ‘bhagidar’. I to woo various sections of soci-
back up his industry-friendly Recently, Congress Chief accept these allegations. Yes, I ety to showcase achievements
efforts. Eminent industrialists Rahul Gandhi in the Parlia- am a ‘bhagidar’ in the pain of of his government and telling
including Kumar Mangalam ment had accused PM Modi the poor people of India. I am about his vision for common
Birla, Gautam Adani, Subhash and Defence Minister Nirmala a ‘bhagidar’ of every effort that man. Modi had visited Sant
Chandra, Sanjiv Puri, Yusuf Sitharaman of “lying” to the provides employment to the Kabir Nagar, Varanasi, Azam-
Ali, B R Shetty shared their nation about the truth of youth of the country. I am the garh, Mirzapur, Shajhanpur
experiences. clandestinely done Rafale deal son of a poor mother, I have and Lucknow districts of Uttar
Modi vowed, “My con- with a French company. He seen poverty closely and can Pradesh.
science is clear”, adding that has accused the government understand it better.” Modi efforts to thwart the
even Mahatma Gandhi was of buying the fighter jets from The Prime Minister also grand alliance against the
known to have been in a France at three times higher took a jibe at the previous saffron party in the upcoming
long-term association with cost than what the UPA gov- regime of Akhilesh Yadav in UP election would be a challenge
the Birlas as he stayed with the ernment had paid in its tenure. as well as the recent contro- for him. The duo, Modi and
industrialist family on several The deal envisaged defence versy regarding his bungalow. Shah, are on the job to disman-
occasions. Launching a veiled collaboration with the newly Modi said, “The period from tle this deadly combination
attack on the opposition, Modi formed company of junior Am- 2014 to 2017 since the Yogi against their governance. It
added, “You will never see bani worth 35,000 crores for Adityanath government was will be interesting to watch
them in a photograph with manufacturing Rafale aircraft, formed in the state was very whether caste chemistry of
industrialists but all of these in- that job was earlier assigned to tough. We kept asking the state united opposition will over-
dustrialists have bowed down government-owned undertak- government to build houses ride the politics of communal
to them at their residences. ing- Hindustan Aeronautics for the poor, we were giving polarisation.
They only meet behind the Ltd during the UPA regime. funds too but the previous gov-
curtains.” “Amar Singh ji knows Taking jibe at Modi in the ernments were not interested. letters@tehelka.com

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