New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sounded the bugle for the Lok Sabha elections from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday.
Addressing the poll rally, Modi said Meerut is a land of revolution and revolutionaries. He stated that the land gave leaders like Chaudhary Charan Singh to the nation.
"In 2014 and 2019, I started my election rally for the Lok Sabha elections from Meerut and in 2024, I am doing the first rally again from Meerut. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections is not just to form the Govt but it is to develop India and to make India the third largest economy in the world," he said.
In Meerut, Modi campaigned for famed actor Arun Govil, who has been fielded by the party from this Lok Sabha seat for the upcoming polls. Govil became a household name after essaying the role of Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's 'Ramayan'.
At the rally, Modi said that the BJP government brought crores of people out of poverty.
"I want to remind you all that when India was the 11th largest economy in the world, the poverty rates of India were soaring. When India became the 5th largest economy, over 25 crore people successfully came out of poverty. I guarantee you, when we become the third largest economy, not only will poverty be eradicated, but a new empowered middle class will fuel India's growth," the prime minister stated.
Lashing out at the Opposition, Modi said the I.N.D.I.A alliance is trying to save the corrupt people.
"In the last 10 years, the country has seen that we have started the fight against corruption, we have ensured that no middleman can steal money from the poor...I am fighting against corruption and because of this, some people are facing problems...Modi's mantra is 'Bhrashtachar hatao' and they say 'Bhrashtacahri bachao'. This election is between NDA, which is fighting against corruption and the other group, which is fighting to save the corrupt," PM Modi said.
"The INDI alliance, which hates farmers, did not even give due respect to Chaudhary Charan Singh. The entire country saw what the INDI alliance did inside the Parliament during the discussion in the Parliament. When our younger brother Jayant Chaudhary stood up to speak in Parliament regarding the Bharat Ratna award, an attempt was made to stop him, an attempt was made to humiliate him. Congress and SP should go door-to-door and apologize to the farmers of this area for this," he added.
He said the BJP government is preparing for the third term. "Our government is getting ready for its third term. We are creating a roadmap for the next five years. We are working on the big decisions we need to make in the first 100 days of our next term. The momentum of development created in the last 10 years, will move ahead with more speed," he said.
Speaking of India's development, Modi said, "I said this from the ramparts of Red Fort that this is the right time. India's time has come. Today, modern infrastructure is being built rapidly in India. Today, India is making unprecedented investments in building infrastructure. Today, new opportunities are being created for the youth in every sector. Today, the women power of the country is coming forward with new resolutions. Today, India's credibility is at a new height, the whole world is looking at India with confidence."
He said that in the last 10 years, many seemingly impossible milestones have been achieved. "A grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya seemed impossible, but it is now a reality, and lakhs of people visit there every day... This time, a grand Holi celebration took place in Awadh and Ram Lalla also played Holi."
"In J&K, abrogation of Article 370 seemed impossible. But, Article 370 has been abrogated and J&K is developing at a rapid pace. This is why, people are going to bless us with 370 seats," Modi added.
Asserting that the BJP and its allies will win all the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh, senior BJP leader and MLC Govind Narayan Shukla said that PM Modi's Meerut rally will prove to be a milestone in western Uttar Pradesh.