New Delhi: Linking the Samajwadi Party’s election symbol ‘cycle’ to the 2008 Ahmedabad serial blasts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday alleged that some parties are sympathetic to terrorists.


“They had kept the bomb on the cycle. They had parked the cycle where the people sell vegetables…The blasts took place on the cycle. I am surprised why did they choose the cycle,” Prime Minister Modi said.


“We have to be alert always from such people, such political parties,” he added addressing the ‘Vishal Jan Sabha’ in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi.


Continuing his diatribe, Prime Minister Modi said “these people also put the country at stake for their selfishness for the chair”.


“They also play with the country’s security,” he added


Prime Minister Modi said that he maintained silence for so many years because the Ahmedabad blast case trial was going on.


“Today when the court has sentenced the terrorists, I am now raising the matter in front of the country. And today I will also praise the Gujarat Police for their efforts to eliminate many modules of the terrorists,” he added.


Attacking the rivals, Prime Minister Modi said the people of Hardoi have seen how these people when in power gave a free hand to those using 'katta' (pistols).


Prime Minister Modi said these “parivarvadis” are now “spreading venom in the name of caste”.


“Such people fight with their own family for chair. The double engine government you voted for doesn't belong to any family, nor the government at the Centre belongs to any family,” said Prime Minister Modi.


“Our govt is for the poor, farmer and youth,” he added.


Reaching out to the voters, Prime Minister Modi said: “Your excitement and enthusiasm are a blessing for all of us. We all know the association of the holy festival of Holi with the divine land of Hardoi. I know this time the people of Hardoi and UP have made preparations to play the colourful festival of Holi twice”


“The first Holi will be celebrated on March 10 with the bumper victory of the BJP. But if Holi is to be celebrated with great pomp on March 10, then preparations for it will have to be done at the polling booths now,” he added.


Prime Minister Modi said the people are voting for the BJP in the ongoing third phase of the assembly elections.


“Votes are being cast in Punjab today as well along with UP. The people there are voting in large numbers for the development and security of Punjab and integrity of the country. They are supporting the BJP,” said Prime Minister Modi.


“You have also taken responsibility of the next phases of the elections in UP. Those doing politics of appeasement and stopping our festivals will get the answer of the people of UP on March 10,” he added.


Prime Minister Modi said the goons used to roam freely across Uttar Pradesh five years ago, adding the people of the state were petrified due to the same.


Continuing his diatribe, Prime Minister Modi said that only 34,000 toilets were built for the poor during the earlier regimes.


“But after the arrival of Yogi ji, 5 lakh toilets were built…Where did the money (for construction of toilets) go?” he asked.


“Those who then kept your homes in the dark, only well-lit their homes are today making false promises to you. Remember, how many hours a day did your villages get electricity during their time, how many hours a week did you get electricity?” he asked.


Meanwhile, polling for the third phase of the assembly elections is progressing smoothly in Uttar Pradesh. The voter turnout till 1 p.m. was 35.88%.


The polling will be conducted till 6 p.m. in the 59 assembly constituencies spread over 16 districts, including Hathras, Kanshiram Nagar (Kasganj), Etah, Mainpuri, Firozabad, Farrukhabad, Kannauj, Etawah, Auraiya, Kanpur Dehat, Kanpur Nagar, Jalaun, Hamirpur, Mahoba, Jhansi and Lalitpur, going to polls.


There are 627 candidates, including 97 women in fray, for 59 seats included in this phase.


During the 2017 assembly elections, the BJP bagged 49 out of the 59 seats going to polls in the third phase, while the Samajwadi Party won eight seats and the Congress and the BSP got one seat each.


The total number of eligible electors for this phase is 2.16 crore, including 1.16 crore male, 99.90 lakh female and 1,060 third gender voters.


In all, 25,794 polling stations have been set up in the concerned constituencies for their convenience. 


The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed an alliance with Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal (Sonelal) and NISHAD Party-led by Sanjay Nishad.


The Samajwadi Party has entered into an alliance with the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), Shivpal Yadav’s Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia), Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party-led by Om Prakash Rajbhar, Janvadi Party (Socialist) and Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) led by Krishna Patel and Mahan Dal.


The Trinamool Congress has announced support to the Samajwadi Party, but decided not to field its candidates in the polls.


The Congress and the Bahujan Samaj Party have announced to go in for the upcoming polls without any alliance.


Asaduddin Owaisi’s All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) has formed an alliance with Babu Singh Kushwaha’s Jan Adhikar Party and Bharat Mukti Morcha.


Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad’s Azad Samaj Party has also floated an alliance with over 30 regional parties.


The Janta Dal (United) is contesting the polls independently in the state.     


Voting for the 403-member Uttar Pradesh Assembly is being held in seven phases from February 10 to March 7.


The counting of votes will be held on March 10.