My Opinion

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday addressed both Houses of Parliament while replying to the debate on Motion of Thanks for the Presidents Address. He cited latest development figures about Jammu & Kashmir and silenced his critics on Citizenship Amendment Act by quoting from former prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Lal Bahadur Shastri, who had supported giving citizenship to Hindus persecuted in West and East Pakistan.

First, Kashmir. Modi revealed that in the last 18 months, 24,000 houses were built in J&K, compared to only 3,000 houses built during Congress rule. For the first time, after becoming a Union Territory, J&K policemen are getting the same benefits that are being given to central paramilitary forces. For the first time, elections of more than 35,000 panch and 4,400 sarpanches were conducted, Ayushman Yojana medicare gold cards were given to more than 3.5 lakh people, old age pension scheme was launched and for the first time, anti-corruption law was enforced in J&K.

Modi justified the detention of former CM Mehbooba Mufti and quoted one of her remarks in which she had cast doubts about the decision of people of Kashmir to join the Indian Union in 1947. He effectively silenced his critics on the issue of abrogation of Article 370 by saying that these steps have already been approved by Parliament.

Modi then turned towards Congress and other opposition parties and pointed out how these parties were deliberately creating fear and suspicion in the minds of Muslims over CAA and NPR issues. He quoted from letters and speeches by former PM Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, B. R. Ambedkar and Ram Manohar Lohia to justify granting of Indian citizenship to Hindus and other minorities persecuted in West and East Pakistan.

Modi tried to clear all nagging doubts about CAA and NRC, and there now appears to be no reason for anti-CAA protests to continue in Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, Mumbai’s Nagpada, and in Kerala and Kolkata. Since it is physically impossible for a Prime Minister to visit each of these places to assuage the feelings of Muslims, he gave his firm assurance on the floor of Parliament.

The Prime Minister took potshots at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remark the previous day at a Congress election rally. Rahul had said that if youths were not given jobs, they “will start beating Modi ji with sticks after six months”. Without naming Rahul, Modi quipped that he would utilize these six months to tone up his physique by doing Surya Namaskar to face the blows of ‘lathis’.

The problem with Rahul Gandhi is that he is under the false impression that one can become a mass leader if one shouts and attacks opponents mercilessly. In the process, Rahul has been committing blunders. Nearly four years ago, Rahul had bragged that there would be an earthquake if he was allowed to speak for five minutes inside Parliament. Modi made fun of his earthquake remark during his reply, leading to guffaws inside the House. Rahul had said on Wednesday that he never lies and only Modi and Arvind Kejriwal speak lies. The fact is that he had to tender an unconditional apology in Supreme Court for telling a lie.

Rahul should learn from Arvind Kejriwal, who used to attack Modi by calling him a psychopath and Pakistani agent, and had to face the wrath of the voters. Kejriwal has brought a sea change in his attitude, and he has refrained from attacking Modi for the last one and a half years. The sooner Rahul learns the benefits of refraining from personally attacking Modi, the better.

Click Here to Watch Full Video| Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the formation of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust, four days before the deadline set by the Supreme Court was to end. This trust will build the Ram Temple at his birthplace in Ayodhya on a plot of 67.7 acres. The Cabinet has cleared a detailed scheme for building the shrine and its surrounding complex.

Simultaneously, in pursuance of the Supreme Court verdict, the UP government has allotted five acres of land for building a mosque, nearly 25 km away from the temple site on the Faizabad-Lucknow highway. The land will be handed over to UP Sunni Central Waqf Board.

The Prime Ministers announcement was greeted by members in the Lok Sabha, Outside Parliament, yoga guru Swami Ramdev was the first to welcome the announcement saying that the nation is fortunate in having a PM like Narendra Modi, who has taken this decision keeping in mind the sensitivities and faith of crores of Hindus.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali of Lucknow said “divisive politics over temple must now end and it is up to the Sunni Waqf Board whether to accept the land gifted by the government or not. ” This is a welcome reaction.

I remember, when the apex court was about to give its verdict, the RSS and BJP leaders had directed their supporters to maintain peace at all cost, and refrain from celebrating in public. The Ayodhya verdict was finally accepted peacefully by all sides.

AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi sought to link the PM’s announcement of the Trust to the forthcoming Delhi elections and said that the timing of this announcement will not help the BJP in the polls.

Politics is a strange subject where leaders draw their own conclusions to suit their line of thinking. Owaisi and leaders of his ilk must know that the formation of the Trust is a sequel to the directions given by the Supreme Court. The court had given deadline till February 9, which was going to expire. The Trust was bound to be set up, and leaders like Owaisi must stop polarizing the society on this dead issue any more.

I believe, politics over temple issue must now end and our leaders should at learn from common Hindus and Muslims who have accepted the apex court verdict peacefully, and with humility.

Click Here to Watch Full Video | Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

India TV in its prime time news show ‘Aaj Ki Baat’ on Tuesday showed Pakistani students stranded in China’s coronavirus-hit Wuhan crying for help from their government. This happened after Indian government sent two special Air India flights to bring home all Indians trapped in Wuhan city. So far, 647 Indians and seven Maldivians have been brought back from China. Most of them have been quarantined in Manesar for tests and observation, in order to contain the spread of deadly coronavirus.
In several video messages going viral, these trapped Pakistani students are openly praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his quick action and slamming their own Pakistani government for refusing to rescue them in this hour of distress.
The Pakistani government has refused to evacuate its citizens from Wuhan in order to show ‘solidarity’ with its all-weather ally Pakistan. A group of Pakistani medical students wearing masks are seen in videos saying, “Indian students are returning back because their government has sent planes to evacuate them…We want to ask our government, are they waiting for us to die? If not, then please evacuate us as soon as possible.” A female student was seen saying on video, “Sadly, our embassy has said that death is Allah’s willing, which can come at any place.”
There are nearly 30,000 Pakistanis residing in China, out of whom more than 500 students are in Wuhan, the epicentre of coronavirus outbreak.
I have only this to say. Narendra Modi has always excelled in rescuing and evacuating people during natural disasters, wars and pandemic outbreak. He plans to the minutest details any relief, rescue or evacuation plan that is to be executed. He has used his vast experience in providing relief and rehabilitation after the disastrous Gujarat earthquake. He launched operations to evacuate Indian nurses trapped in war-hit Iraq and Yemen. As chief minister of Gujarat, his exploits in evacuating stranded tourists from flood-hit Kedarnath are legendary.
Narendra Modi always believes in forward planning. Even before China allowed Air India special flights to land in Wuhan, Modi had kept ITBP quarantine centre in Manesar and Army hospital ready to handle the inflow of Indians from China.
One is appalled at the obduracy of Pakistan government. If Pakistan lacks resources, I believe, Modi will surely come forward to extend help if Prime Minister Imran Khan sends him a request. In the same way, as India saved Pakistanis trapped in Yemen along with other nationals.

Click Here to Watch Full Video| Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday lashed out at anti-CAA protesters in Shaheen Bagh, Seelampur and Jamia Millia alleging it was not a ‘coincidence’ (sanyog) but a ‘plot’ (prayog) to destroy communal harmony. Addressing a mammoth BJP election rally, Modi alleged that display of national flag and Constitution was just a deception by protesters to mask their real intent.

Modi appealed to voters to support BJP in the Delhi elections in order to, what he called, ‘stop anarchy from spreading’. Modi reminded voters that it was Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who had questioned the intent of brave Delhi police officers during the Batla House encounter with terrorists. I have seen that video of Kejriwal today. Modi is right when he is saying that Kejriwal had supported the ‘tukde-tukde’ gang during those days. Modi is also right when he says that Kejriwal had demanded evidence of the surgical strike against Pakistan.

With the change in political scenario, Kejriwal has now changed his style of making statements. He has started making adjustments to suit his political ends. He has not visited the Shaheen Bagh protesters even once. On Monday, Kejriwal recited Hanuman Chalisa at an event.

There has also been a marked change in Kejriwal’s outlook towards Prime Minister Modi. For the first four and half years of his tenure as Chief Minister, he never lost any opportunity to criticize Modi for every step that the Prime Minister took. I remember him once alleging that Modi has a ‘setting’ with Pakistani leaders. In the last six months, Kejriwal has not made a single remark against the Prime Minister either through speech or through his tweets. This is a clear sign of change in Kejriwal’s style of politics. He has realized that his party would suffer politically if he challenged Modi.

And now, about the present state of poll campaign in Delhi. When the campaign began, Kejriwal highlighted what he claimed his achievements in providing free water, free electricity, free DTC bus travel for women, mohalla clinics, modernized government schools and free medical treatment. He thought this would put BJP on the defensive.

However, in the last seven to ten days, BJP has launched a double barrelled attack on AAP. Amit Shah and J. P. Nadda came out with videos to debunk Kejriwal’s claims of providing better schools and hospitals.

Kejriwal was unfazed, but his concern is more over the all-out campaign on Shaheen Bagh, Sharjeel Imam and tukde-tukde gang launched by Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath. The more Kejriwal tries to evade replies to these attacks, the more BJP’s attacks have become aggressive. Barely three days are now left for campaigning, and Prime Minister Modi’s frontal attack on AAP could prove costly for Kejriwal.

Click Here to Watch Full Video| Get connected on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook