In a veiled attack at the previous Uttar Pradesh governments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that history has shown that state was not secure in the hands of family-oriented political parties.
“History shows that the state is not secure in the hands of family-oriented political parties. There were back-to-back terrorist attacks in Uttar Pradesh during their rules. Unfortunately, instead of punishing the terrorists of these blasts, the Samajwadi government worked to get them released,” he said while addressing an election rally in Kaushambi. He further said that dynastic politics deprived Kaushambi of development.
“During the reign of the past governments, criminals roamed freely and forcefully took possession of other people’s land and properties. Our mothers and daughters felt unsafe while coming out of their homes. Instead of providing good governance, the previous governments exploited the people and their leaders built lavish palaces. We on the other hand have made homes for the poor.” Taking a jibe at Akhilesh Yadav, he said several scams came to light including mining, ambulance, food grain and riverfront during the Samajwadi Party’s rule.
“Scams were the secret of their rule. Mining Scam, Food Scam, Ambulance Scam, River Front Scam. Today every penny of the State is being spent on the welfare of the people. This government has done the work of saving terrorists. Today, talent is being respected and industries are being set up in every district of the state.”
Taking a dig at Opposition leaders, the Prime Minister said that the “mausami”
(seasonal) leaders disappeared during the Covid-19 peak. “You got to see ‘mausami’ leaders in Covid who disappeared during the peak and reappeared when it was controlled. When elections came, they have come, when elections will be over after March 10, they will go abroad. They instigated people against vaccines but got themselves vaccinated. People of Uttar Pradesh are well aware of ‘seasonal’ leaders,” said PM Modi.
Meanwhile, surrounded by police and paramilitary personnel, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni cast his vote in the Lakhimpur Kheri Assembly seat on Wednesday. Lakhimpur Kheri had hogged the national limelight after eight people, including four farmers, were killed after being mowed down by a vehicle during last year. Teni’s son Ashish Mishra is accused in the case. Ashish Mishra was released from jail last week after Allahabad High Court granted him bail.
The Lakhimpur seat is witnessing a multi-cornered contest. The BJP’s Yogesh Verma is seeking re-election from the Lakhimpur seat. He is up against Utkarsh Verma Madhur of the Samajwadi Party (SP), Mohan Bajpai of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Ravi Shankar Trivedi of Congress, Usman Siddiqui of the AIMIM, and Khushi Kinnar from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Uttar Pradesh recorded an average voter turnout of 57.45% till 5 pm in the fourth phase of the ongoing Assembly polls on Wednesday. According to the Election Commission, Lakhimpur Kheri witnessed the highest voter turnout with 62.45%, while Unnao witnessed the lowest turnout with 54.12% will 5 pm. The other constituency that witnessed more than 60% turnout was Pilibhit with 61.42%.
