'Chowkidar is alert': Modi rebuffs oppn criticism of using national security to garner votes

Darbhanga: Rebuffing the opposition’s criticism that the ruling NDA is using the national security issue for electoral gains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday said rooting out terror is essential so that the money can be used to improve the living conditions of the poor.

Addressing a rally in this north Bihar town, Modi also claimed that the Congress-led opposition was in jitters after the “favourable response” to the NDA in the first three phases of polling.

He alleged, “The Mahamilavati gang has given up seeking proof of Balakot terror strikes and started finding fault with EVMs.”

In a veiled attack on Lalu Prasad’s RJD, the prime minister commended Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Kumar Modi, for bringing electricity to the remotest village in the state and making the ‘lantern’ the opposition party’s poll symbol redundant in Bihar.

Both Nitish Kumar and Sushil Kumar Modi were present on the dais. Modi also spoke about the “Darbhanga module” of home-grown terror and told the rally “rest assured, your chowkidar is alert”, evoking huge applause from the crowd, which chanted slogans hailing the prime minister.

In an indirect reference to the local RJD candidate Abdul Bari Siddiqui, who had recently stoked a controversy with his statement that he could not recite ‘Vande Mataram’ since it went against his monotheistic religious beliefs, Modi asked, “Should not they be defeated in a manner that they have to forfeit their deposits?”

Modi also mocked regional satraps nursing prime ministerial ambitions, saying “even those who are contesting a mere 40, 20 or – as we see in Karnataka just eight seats seem to be standing in the queue.”

“Can these people be entrusted with the task of fighting terror?” Modi asked, evoking a deafening ‘no’ from the crowd. Modi went on to say, “but your chowkidar cannot win this fight on his own. He must get your votes.

“Remember whether you vote for the BJP candidate here or elsewhere or any nominee of our alliance partners, your vote would go to the chowkidar,” he said.