'Hoisted Tricolour In Jammu Without Security Amid Terror Threats': PM Modi Recalls 1991 Ekta Yatra

While taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra, PM Modi spoke about his Ekta Yatra in 1991 when he unfurled the national flag in J&K despite terror threats.

PM Modi in Lok Sabha on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday recalled his 'Ekta Yatra' to Jammu & Kashmir in 1991, during which he unfurled the National Flag at Lal Chowk, despite the threats of terrorists. Addressing the Lok Sabha during the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, the Prime Minister expressed his happiness over the "peace and stability that was restored in Jammu and Kashmir", as well as the "unprecedented growth in the tourism sector, after the abrogation of Article 370".

In his speech, the PM Modi made a jibe at the opposition leaders in Jammu and Kashmir and the recent Bharat Jodo Yatra led by Rahul Gandhi. He noted that these leaders now had the opportunity to witness the ease of travel in the region and the growing number of tourists. He then spoke about his own experience, during which he had resolved to unfurl the Tricolour at Lal Chowk despite the terrorist's threats.

 

PM Narendra Modi (then General Secretary of BJP) and Anandiben Patel (then Women's cell President of BJP) welcomed at Ahmedabad Railway Station on January 31, 1992, after the success of Ekta Yatra.

"Those who came back from J&K recently must have seen how easily you can go there. I, too, had gone on a yatra to J&K with the resolve to unfurl the Tricolour at Lal Chowk. Terrorists had put up posters threatening to kill me. That day on January 24, at a public rally, I had said, 'Terrorists pay heed. On January 26, sharp at 11 am, I will reach Lal Chowk without security and a bulletproof jacket'. Then I unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk," he said.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the unity, or the lack thereof, among Opposition parties and said that the (actions of) Enforcement Directorate for bringing them together. "They should have come together on the electoral platform. But it was the Enforcement Directorate that brought them together when the electorate failed," he said, referring to the Opposition's repeated allegations of the "misuse of central agencies".

He went on to mention a study, titled 'The Rise and Decline of India's Congress Party', conducted by Harvard, which looked at the rise and fall of the Congress. "Not just Harvard, all big universities of world will conduct studies on Congress' downfall," the PM said.

He expressed disappointment with the people who still had misconceptions about him, despite his 22 years of hard work. The Prime Minister emphasized that his trust among the people was not because of media headlines or TV appearances, but because of his dedication to serving the nation and working towards its better future.

The Prime Minister further lashed out at the "arrogance of those who thought they held the monopoly of knowledge and believed that abusing him was the only way to succeed". He stated that the trust the people have in him is beyond their understanding, as it is not based on media headlines or TV appearances, but on his life's work for the country.