'State Enjoying Double Profit Of Double-Engine Government': PM Modi At His First Rally In Western Uttar Pradesh

On Tuesday (14 September), Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first rally in western Uttar Pradesh claimed that his government stood by the small farmer.

The rally comes weeks after the protesters organised the Muzaffarnagar mahapanchayat against the three farm reform laws.

The PM was in Aligarh to lay the foundation stone of the defence industrial corridor and a state university named after freedom fighter and Jat leader Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh.

UP's Defence Industrial Corridor announced in 2018 has a total of six nodes — Aligarh, Agra, Kanpur, Chitrakoot, Jhansi and Lucknow.

"Over the years, Aligarh’s locks have protected homes and belongings. Now, defence products made in Aligarh will protect the borders of the country,” the PM was quoted as saying by The Hindu.

He also mentioned a Muslim locksmith from Aligarh who used to visit his village in Gujarat’s Vadnagar every three months.

“When he used to come, he used to stay in the village for two-four days. He also used to do business in the surrounding villages. He used to leave the money with my father that he collected from other shopkeepers. My father kept his money. While leaving the village, he used to take his money with him,” he recalled.

The Prime Minister said that the villagers in Gujarat knew about Sitapur and Aligarh. While Sitapur was known for eye specialists, the villagers remembered Aligarh due to the salesman and his locks, he said.

The "city of locks" was reportedly covered with BJP posters describing Raja Mahendra Pratap as “Jat Shiromani”.

PM Modi, in his speech, said that Raja Mahendra Pratap was among those figures of the freedom movement whose contributions were ignored by the previous governments.

“The mistakes of the 20th Century are being corrected by 21st Century India, in its 75th year of Independence,” he said.

He added that the upcoming university would not only provide modern education but also become an important centre of research in defence studies and provide manpower to industries that have invested in the defence sector.

'Govt committed to protect farmer interests'

PM Modi said that the government stood for small farmers and invoked Chaudhary Charan Singh.

As the former Prime Minister Singh had stood by small farmers, the National Democratic Alliance government, through various schemes, was also looking after the interests of those who were cultivating less than two hectares, he said.

“Eight out of 10 farmers in India belong to this category. Be it strengthening the insurance scheme, expanding the Kisan credit card or increasing the MSP by 1.5 times, this government is standing by the small farmer,” he added.

Earlier, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his government had paid Rs 1,43,000 crore to cane farmers, while from 2007 to 2017, the previous governments paid only Rs 93,000 crore.

PM Modi said that the cane farmers would further benefit from the government’s policy to promote biofuel.

The Prime Minister also praised the Yogi Adityanath government's handling of the Covid second wave. He pointed out that the state had emerged as a leader in administering Covid-19 vaccines.

Adityanath said that schemes like Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana and the Atmanirbhar Bharat package had ensured that both jeevan (life) and jeevika (livelihood) could go on during the pandemic.

“Double profit of a double-engine government”

PM Modi described Uttar Pradesh as a future hub of defence production and education in the country.

India was fast moving from “being an importer to an exporter of defence products”, PM Modi said.

"Uttar Pradesh is increasingly emerging as a favourable destination for national and international investors. This happens when a conducive environment is nurtured... and necessary resources are provided. Today, Uttar Pradesh has become a shining example of (the) double benefits of the double-engine government," he added.

The PM also criticised the past governments of UP for law and order problems.

"There was a time when only goons ruled the state. But now all extortionists, mafia leaders are behind bars. People of UP can't forget the scams that the state has seen... how corrupt people were chosen for key roles," he said.

“Providing a conducive atmosphere to investors, today, Uttar Pradesh makes news for big infrastructure projects. Mafia and scams have become things of the past,” he added.