Modi also appeared to be reaching out to UPA ally National Conference as he mentioned Union Minister Farooq Abdullah among the leaders from whom he learnt how the administration is run.
“I worked with Bansi Lal, Parkash Singh Badal, Om Prakash Chautala, Farooq Abdullah and I saw how administration is run. What could I learn from Badal Sahab, helped me a lot in running the government in Gujarat. Being with these seniors helped me a lot in administration,” he said. National Conference was earlier with NDA while BJP is likely to have an alliance with Chautala's INLD this time as well.
Accusing Congress of cheating people, Modi said, “Now since they felt that you have become aware, they have engaged in throwing pepper in Parliament. Those, who used to throw dust are now throwing pepper so that people fail to see the sins and the bad governance of Congress.” On the issue of alleged displacement of Sikh farmers from Kutch region of Gujarat, he said that it was a false propaganda from certain elements.
“I assure that no Sikh farmer will be displaced from Kutch and Gujarat,” he said amidst applause from the gathering.
“If any officer does anything wrong he will go but no Sikh farmer will be displaced from Gujarat,” he said. “The people who are misguiding on the issue are posing a threat to the country,” he said adding that “the entire country is one”.
He applauded that both Punjabis and Gujaratis are moving on the path of development and live together in many countries.
On the issue of SAD and BJP alliance, he said it is “troubling Congress as its policy of divide and rule had failed”.
Professing his love for Punjab and its people, Modi said that music and food of the state is a favourite in Gujarat too and recalled how he had strived to build an earthquake ravaged Gurudwara in Lakhpat in Gujarat.
He also lashed out at Congress for allegedly forgetting freedom fighters liken Lala Lajpat Rai. “For Congress only Gandhi family is making sacrifices for the country,” he said He also lauded the contribution of Punjab in his endeavour to build statue of unity in Gujarat.
Holding that his only aim is development, he said before polls NDA is National Democratic Alliance but when in government it will be National Development Alliance. The only aim of NDA is “development” of the country, he said.
The BJP leader, who was offered a ‘turban' at the rally, said he will keep the sanctity of turban at all cost. “My responsibility is to keep the respect of turban intact...I will fulfil the responsibility of tradition of sacrifice...the country will flourish and farmers will be satisfied,” he said.
