'Last 10 years only a trailer ...': PM Modi kicks off BJP's Lok Sabha campaign from Meerut

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday kicked off the Bharatiya Janata Party's campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Uttar Pradesh's Meerut. The PM had started his election campaign for the 2014 and 2019 (Lok Sabha) from Meerut as well.


Stating that the upcoming general elections was not just about choosing a government but to make a "Viksit Bharat", PM Modi said: "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 also attacked the Congress for "anti-national acts" and referred to Katchatheevu island in Tamil Nadu, off the coast of India. "This island is extremely important from the perspective of national security. When the country became independent, we had this island, and it was an integral part of India but 4-5 decades ago, Congress said that this Island was of no use and cut off a part of Maa Bharti and separated it from India."



Key quotes from PM Modi' speech

• I have a special relationship with Meerut. I had started my election campaign for the 2014 and 2019 (Lok Sabha) polls from Meerut only. And now, the first rally for the 2024 elections is also being organised in Meerut. The 2024 Lok Sabha elections is not an election to elect the government, but to make a 'Viksit Bharat'
• I am taking action against corruption, and that's why some people have lost their patience. Modi's mantra is 'remove corruption', but they (opposition) say 'save those who are corrupt'.
• These (Lok Sabha) elections are a contest between two groups. On one side, there is a group that acts against corruption, and on the other, there are those who want to save the corrupt. They have formed an INDI alliance, and they think that this will scare Modi. My country is my family, and I am fighting a battle against corruption. That's why many corrupt people are in jail now. These people are not even getting bail from the Supreme Court
• During Congress rule, thousands of crores of rupees of poor, small investors, and banks were wrongfully confiscated... We have confiscated the property of the corrupt people and more than Rs 17000 crore have been returned to those whose money had been wrongfully taken from them
• The report card of the NDA government's 10 years is in front of everyone. In the last 10 years, several things were done that were considered impossible. People considered the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya impossible. However, the temple has been built now... Several promises were also made regarding the one rank, one pension. However, we implemented it. Besides, we also brought the Triple Talaq Act for our Muslim sisters
• You have only seen trailer of development till now. We have to take the country much forward
• When India will become third largest economy, poverty will be eradicated, middle class will provide strength to country
• There was poverty everywhere when India was the 11th largest economy in the world. By the time India became the fifth largest economy, 25 crore people were lifted from poverty. I guarantee that the country will have a strong and capable middle class, once it becomes the third largest economy. That's why the entire nation is saying 'June 4 ko 400 paar'
• 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
• Meerut is land of revolution and revolutionaries, gave leaders like Chaudhary Charan Singh to nation
• 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 investment 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
• Today, another anti-national act of Congress has come before the country. Katchatheevu is an island in Tamil Nadu, off the coast of India, between Sri Lanka and Tamil Nadu and this island is extremely important from the perspective of national security. When the country became independent, we had this island, and it was an integral part of India but 4-5 decades ago, Congress said that this Island was of no use and cut off a part of Maa Bharti and separated it from India

With political dynamics shifting in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP is spearheading a robust alliance, encompassing parties like the RLD, SBSP, Apna Dal (S), and Nishad Party, bolstering its position.

Lok Sabha election 2024 in Uttar Pradesh will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. Phase 1 voting will be held on April 19, Phase 2 voting will be held on April 26, Phase 3 on May 7, Phase 4 on May 13, Phase 5 on May 20, Phase 6 voting on May 25 and Phase 7 voting will be held on June 1.

The votes will be counted on June 4.

The BJP has fielded Arun Govil from Meerut, the actor who played Lord Ram in Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan in the 80s.


Notably, in the 2024 elections, BJP candidate Arun Govil will face SP candidate Bhanu Pratap Singh and BSP candidate Devvrit Tyagi in Meerut.

The BJP also eyes Western UP with optimism to achieve its ambitious target of 370 seats on its own, despite facing setbacks in the last elections. In 2014, the BJP secured 24 out of 27 seats in the region, which dwindled to 19 in 2019, with all eight seats going to the SP-BSP combined.

In 2019, BJP candidate Rajendra Agarwal had then managed to clinch the Meerut seat by defeating SP-backed BSP candidate Haji Yakub Qureshi by a thin margin of less than 5,000 votes.
(With inputs from agencies)
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