Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was in Punjab, addressed a rally in Anandpur Sahib, which is considered to be one of the holiest places for Sikhs.
Speaking to the people attending the rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said:
I hope Guru Gobind Singh’s message of bravery and unity amongst people inspire the generations to follow. In the coming days there’s going to be a huge gathering in Patna Sahib, and the government will ensure that Indian Railways facilities be provided to the attendees.
Modi also laid a foundation stone for AIIMS in Bathinda, in Punjab on Friday before heading off to Anandpur Sahib. Addressing a crowd there, Modi asked the people of Pakistan to tell their rulers to fight corruption and black money, instead of fighting with India.
“When a school in Peshawar was attacked, every Indian was sad and shed tears. People of Pakistan should tell their rulers to fight corruption, fake notes and black money. They must talk to their rulers and decide if they want to fight against India,” he said.
Raking up the issue of the Indian Army’s surgical strike along the LoC in September, Modi extolled the soldiers saying:
“Jab hamare bahadur jawano ne surgical strike kiya, seema paar hadkamp mach gaya (Look at the valour of our army jawans. When they conducted the surgical strike, it created havoc across border)”
He also vowed to work for the farmers in Punjab saying that the “water that belongs to India cannot be allowed to go to Pakistan”. Talking about the Indus Waters Treaty, he added that he will make sure farmers in Punjab don’t suffer.
Modi will also be attending a function related to the 350th Parkash Utsav of 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh at Kesargadh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, who is the Lok Sabha member from Bathinda constituency, are expected to be present for his visit.
Modi's visit is also significant for Punjab's ruling alliance of the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The alliance has been in power in Punjab since 2007.
Modi reiterated the government’s objective of making the country move towards a digital and cashless economy at the book launch function in Parliament House Annexe in the run up to Constitution Day on Saturday.
Slamming his detractors and everybody who criticised him for the government’s lack of preparedness on demonetisation, he said that the people who are complaining about the government unpreparedness are, in fact, upset that the government did not provide them time to prepare. Speaking in Hindi, he said:
“I don’t think there is a lack of preparation by the government, the real problem is that the people who are complaining did not get time to prepare,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)