Talking about Narendra Modi's campaign, he said, "Modi was declared as BJP's prime ministerial candidate on September 13, 2013. Since then, he has singularly addressed 380 rallies in the country. Most of these rallies had been attended by lakhs of people.
" I had initially thought that fatigue would set in after an initial enthusiasm. That does not seem to be happening. Additionally, there have been at least 300 rallies in the 3D format which he has already addressed. Another 300 are likely to be addressed by him. I do not remember if any single individual has undertaken personal campaign of this magnitude in the recent history," he said.
Talking about the drug menace in Punjab, Jaitley said, "Yesterday, I was addressing a public meeting at Rajasansi. The loudest cheer was reserved for a comment made against the drug addiction in the state. Enthusiastic applause came from that section of the audiences where a large number of women were seated. This explains it all. Drugs are not grown in Punjab".
Narcotics are smuggled from across the border, he said, adding that some indigenous drugs that were cultivated in Rajasthan were also available here.
"There is no solution to this problem except strictest of enforcement. All drug availability must be cut out at its very source. The borders have to be completely sealed to make it impossible for anyone to smuggle drugs in the state," he said.
Even in interstate travel from other states, strict enforcement has to be undertaken, he said, adding that this might involve the harassment of some but that was unavoidable.
"Narco- terrorism is the new form of insurgency. It should be dealt accordingly", he quipped.
Meanwhile, Jaitley visited villages around the fencing area along Indo-Pak border, where he interacted with the farmers and inquired about the problems they are facing.
During rallies in village Bachiwind and Chogawan, he attacked the Central government for stopping compensation scheme for non cultivation of agriculture land, started by Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA government, for farmers having lands beyond the fencing areas.
He alleged that it was the sheer act of indifference on the part of the Centre's UPA government.
Jaitley asked his rival Congress candidate Amarinder Singh to go to farmers around the fencing areas and explain them the reasons for stopping the compensation scheme.
