PM Narendra Modi Calls AAP “Nakampanthis”, “spread anarchy”
NEW DELHI : PM Narendra Modi’s speech at his big rally in New Delhi touched on familiar themes that we’ve heard throughout his campaign, such as national security and being tough on terrorism. He spent a big portion of his speech criticizing other parties for not doing enough, allegedly being corrupt, or creating family dynasties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today added a fifth kind of political culture to the list of four he had drawn up earlier — a jab directed at the Delhi’s ruling Aam Aadmi Party.
At his first rally before the elections in the national capital, held at the historic Ramlila Grounds, he said it was “Nakampanthis” (Do nothings), who have “vitiated the image of an aam aadmi”.His own party, the BJP, he said was ”vikaspanthi” (one which believed in development)”.
At a rally in Uttar Pradesh last week, PM Modi had mocked the Congress and the Left, dubbing them ”naampanthi” (dynastic) ”vaampanthi” (Left). A third type of political culture was also outlined — ”daam aur damanpathi” (those relying on money and muscle).
Naakampanthis, he said, have “spread anarchy and backstabbed the nation”. They supported the ”tukde-tukde” gang – a reference to the student leaders like Kanhaiya Kumar who allegedly shouted anti-national slogans. The BJP now applies the term to anyone it accuses of sympathising with Maoists and separatists.
The BJP had won all seven seats of Delhi in the 2014 national elections. But it has since faced a challenge from Arvind Kejriwal’s party, which had swept to power in 2015, winning 67 of the 70 assembly seats.
The AAP government has since been at loggerheads with the Centre over various administrative issues – a situation that had led a fresh demand for statehood for Delhi. Mr Kejriwal’s party has made it their central theme.
Prime Minister Modi said his BJP government has achieved during the last five years and appealed to New Delhi voters to keep him in power for another five. Modi boasts of the achievements he says his administration has accomplished, including providing more toilets, cooking gas and free medical aid for the poor, and tax exemptions for the middle class.
Modi says because of his Goods and Service Tax, which was one of his big economic policies, “people are freed from the inspector raj.”He also promotes the expansion of the metro system in New Delhi, solar power, and the construction of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, which he said has eased congestion in and out of the city.
Several parties across India have these long family histories, where sons, daughters and other relatives take on the political mantle of the party.The Congress Party is one such party that Modi was targeting — its name has become synonymous with the Gandhi family.
( with Agency Inputs ).
