Narendra Modi Pithoragarh rally: PM attacks Congress for questioning surgical strike; 10 key highlights

He also tried to woo Armymen in the state by emphasising on 'One Rank One Pension' reforms. Army personnel constitute a significant chunk of voters in the hilly state.

Dehradun, Feb 12: Ahead of voting in Uttarakhand Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a rally on Sunday in Pithoragarh. During his speech, he emphasised on Central government’s initiatives on developing the state. He also tried to woo Armymen in the state by emphasising on ‘One Rank One Pension’ reforms. Army personnel constitute a significant chunk of voters in the hilly state. Uttarakhand will go to polls on Feb 15 in a single-phased election.

Key highlights from Narendra Modi’s speech in Pithoragarh

1. PM Modi alleged that the Congress-led government in Uttarakhand is tainted with corruption and the people of Pithoragarh have pledged to uproot tainted government in Uttarakhand. Using the binary of ‘Bhootpoorv- Abhootparv’ in Hindi, he claimed that the people of Uttarakhand will bid a bye to the current government and make it ‘Bhootpoorv'(previous). He also promised ‘Abhootpoorv’ (Incredible) government in the state.
2. PM said that Uttrakhand was created during the tenure of National Democratic Alliance government in 2001 along with Jharkhand and Chhatisgarh. He said that Chhatisgarh has achieved enormous growth but Uttarakhand has lagged behind in achieving growth. He also alleged Congress of plundering the state.(Also Read: Prime Minister says ‘paryavaran, paryatan, paudha & pani’ to be key focus; 10 key highlights)
3. BJP‘s star campaigner alleged that the hilly state has witnessed large scale migration of people from the state which also deprived the state of its due development. Migration affected severely ‘Jawani’ in the state. Launching a scathing attack on Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged that Harish Rawat too migrated from the state.
4. Modi alleged that raising question marks on the valour of Army is a humiliating work and Congress insulted the Army by questioning the credibility of the surgical strike. Indian Army carried a surgical strike on launchpads of terrorists in Pakistan occupied Kashmir last year.
5. He said that Congress failed to address the plight of Armymen for 40 years. Congress allocated Rs. 500 crores allocated for One Rank One Pension in the budget.It was a sheer humiliation to the Armymen. After coming to power in 2014, Bharatiya Janta Party implemented One Rank One Pension. He said that we are determined to pay Armymen and we have already paid 6500 crores for One Rank One Pension. We will release outstanding income in three to four instalments.
6.  PM said that the Central government also implemented the seventh pay commission’s recommendations. Along with One Rank One Pension Scheme, the Army men will be able to get the double benefit of pay revision under Seventh Pay Commission.
7. He claimed that Central Government has also increased the allocation of a special fund four times under the discretionary power of Defence Minister. He also announced that retired Army personnel would be imparted special skills under Skill India scheme.
8. Serving the mothers of Army men remains his top priority, Prime Minister said. He further added that women inhale smoke equivalent to 400 cigarettes while cooking. The Central government allocated gas connections to 1.8 crore families under Ujjawala Scheme. He also claimed that 1 lakh families have been given gas connections in Uttarakhand.
9. PM announced that no interview will be conducted for recruitment in Class III and Class IV categories in central government. This will do away the corruption involved in the process of recruitment in Central government. However, Uttarakhand government failed to implement it.
10. Will not stall his initiatives to fight corruption in the state, PM Modi said. He also alleged Congress of stalling development projects in the state.