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New Delhi: There was no mention of Shaheen Bagh in PM Narendra Modi’s Delhi campaign rally Tuesday, just a day after he alleged a conspiracy angle to anti-citizenship law protests at Seelampur, Shaheen Bagh and Jamia Nagar.

The omission of what has been a primary campaign plank for the BJP in Delhi so far came barely 16 hours after a Times Now-Ipsos survey predicted a sweep for the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the national capital.

The same survey had shown that 51 per cent of respondents felt the Shaheen Bagh protest was “unjustified”, but the fact didn’t seem to reflect in any gains for the BJP, which was pegged to win 10-14 of Delhi’s 70 seats.

Modi, however, did mention the Citizenship Amendment Act, accusing the opposition parties of spreading rumours about it.

Addressing a rally in Delhi’s Dwarka — his second for the 2020 assembly elections since dates were announced last month — he primarily sought to counter the AAP government on other issues, including its “failure” to implement the flagship schemes of the central government because of “politics”.

Naming some of the central government’s schemes such as Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, and Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Modi claimed their beneficiary count was higher than the population of many countries.

“The government in Delhi is not concerned about the people. What is the fault of homeless people who are not allowed to get homes under the PM Awas Yojana? Or what fault have our farmers committed that they do not get benefits under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme (for income support)?” he said.

“Why do those who use the Delhi Metro daily have to suffer just because the fourth stage of Delhi Metro expansion was not given clearance for two years?” he asked.

Also read: How Modi, Shah & Yogi couldn’t stop talking about Shaheen Bagh in Delhi election rallies

‘Ab Dilli badlega’

He also talked about the central government’s decision to regularise hundreds of unauthorised colonies in Delhi — a decision the AAP has also claimed credit for.

“A strong and decisive government at the Centre gave ownership rights to about 40 lakh people of 1,700 unauthorised colonies in Delhi despite attempts of the Delhi government to create hindrance,” he said. “This could be possible because people of Delhi gave all 7 [Lok Sabha] seats to BJP.”

He was referring to the fact that the BJP won all of Delhi’s seven parliamentary seats in 2014 as well as 2019. Its tally in the 2015 assembly election, however, stood at three of 70 seats.

The BJP has been out of power in Delhi since 1998.

Urging people to vote for the BJP in the Delhi election, scheduled for Saturday, Modi said: “Desh badla hai ab Dilli badlega (the country has changed, now it’s time for Delhi).”

On national security

He also brought up the issue of national security, saying Delhi voters should punish those who questioned the 2016 and 2019 strikes against terrorists based in Pakistan.

“Are the people of Delhi not angry at the way leaders of Delhi government made statements after the surgical and air strikes? I have full faith in the people of Delhi that they will punish the… people.”

He said Delhi should vote for a party that doesn’t indulge in appeasement politics and supports issues of national interest and security, including the CAA and scrapping of Article 370. He also mentioned the Batla House encounter and criticised the AAP and the Congress for “crying” for the terrorists but questioning the Army.

“Everyone remembers how the head of the Delhi government used derogatory and insulting language for the police force. It shows their mindset,” he added. “In contrast, our government has built the National Police Memorial honouring their sacrifices. It shows our values,” he said.

Also read: Jobs & Shaheen Bagh focus of Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi’s first joint rally outside UP

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