No caste, family, let’s talk development: PM Narendra Modi

GORAKHPUR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a new slogan for poll-bound Uttar Pradesh: ‘Na Jaativad, Na Parivarvad, Sirf Vikasvad,’ imploring people to usher in development in Uttar Pradesh by bringing BJP to power and rejecting the Samajwadi Party and Congress dynastic rule. However, he refrained from any direct attack on Bahujan Samaj Party or its chief Mayawati who had lashed out at the BJP earlier this week for its leaders making derogatory comments on her, although he talked about voting against caste parties.

Modi lavished praise on local MP Yogi Adityanath crediting him and other leaders of the region for dovetailing the fertiliser factory and AIIMS project the foundation stone for which was laid by Modi on Friday. Adityanath enjoys a large following in eastern UP but has an uneasy equation with the BJP leadership. Modi’s praise was a clear attempt at reaching out to voters in the region ahead of the polls. Earlier in the day, Modi also visited the Gorakhnath temple, of which Yogi is the Mahant (head priest), and interacted with several seers.

The large rally saw Modi speaking in Bhojpuri, perhaps for the first time, for more than two minutes as he told the jubilant crowd that he had come back to fulfil his promises made during elections. “Do only Delhi people need AIIMS? Should not my eastern UP brothers and sisters get A I I M S . T h e Ja p a n e s e Encephalitis here has led to several deaths. We will not allow our children to die anymore and soon best medical care would be available through AIIMS.”

He said that the previous Congress government used to import urea when factories in India remained shut, but his government was now reviving the fertiliser plant in Gorakhpur an would soon start plants in Sindri and Barauni.