Modi makes a plea to New Delhi to go out and vote for him and his party at the polling booths on Sunday. "You have to blossom the lotus on every polling booth," he said. "All your votes will come to Modi’s account." The lotus is the symbol of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party and, on polling day, voters press the button next to the symbol of their preferred party. "I ask you, you go to each and every house, meet the voters, you’ll spread my vote to them and you’ll take them out to vote and inspire them to press the button." "Bothers and sisters, keep you blessings on us and I ask that everyone say with me 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' (hail Mother India.)"<doc-sep>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched a blistering attack on the Aaam Aadmi Party (AAP) in his first rally in the national capital, accusing the Arvind Kejriwal-led government of supporting the "tukde-tukde gang" and bringing in "nakaampanthi" (non-performance) model of governance. In a hard-hitting speech, PM Modi also targeted the Congress alleging that the Gandhi family used Indian Navy's aircraft carrier INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister. At his first poll rally in Delhi ahead of the May 12 elections for all its seven seats, he also accused the Congress of promoting dynasty politics. PM Modi touched upon a gamut of issues ranging from pollution control, including cleaning of river Yamuna, his government's policy to firmly deal with terrorism and measures to keep prices of essential commodities under control besides sops for middle class, claiming they have led to an ease of living for people. In sync with the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) high-pitched nationalism narrative, PM Modi, in an apparent reference to the Balakot strikes inside Pakistan, said the new India under his government does not needle anyone but at the same time it will not hesitate to hit them hard when provoked. "Naya Hindustan kisi ko chhedta nahi hain, lekin chhedne walon ko chhodta bhi nahi hain...ghar mein ghus ke maarta hain," PM Modi said, adding that in five years, security personnel have prevented several mishaps in the country. PM Modi also said Masood Azhar was declared as an international terrorist which was earlier considered as an impossible task. The prime minister said the Congress is equally responsible for emergence of 'nakaampanthi' political culture and model of governance. PM Modi said there are four models-- 'naampanthi' (dynastic politics), 'vaampanthi' (left politics) and dam and 'damanpanthi' (hooliganism) and 'vikaspanth' (those who believe in development). "But Delhi is the only state where we learnt about the fifth model. Delhi has seen 'nakaampanthi' (non-performance) which created anarchy and betrayed the people of the country," PM Modi said. Speaking on the Delhi government holding prosecution sanction in the JNU sedition row, PM Modi said the AAP dispensation sided with the "tukde tukde gang". "Delhi has seen 'nakaampanthi' model of governance. The people who had come to change the country, got changed themselves. They supported 'tukde tukde' gang and strengthened India's enemies," PM Modi said, without naming the AAP. PM Modi also accused the party of backing Khalistanis. The BJP began using the "tukde tukde" gang to refer to students accused of raising anti-India slogans in Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in 2016 and has generalised the phrase to attack those it accuses of sympathising with Maoists and separatists. On the INS Viraat issue, PM Modi claimed the Navy was made to host the Gandhi family and Rajiv Gandhi's in-laws, and a helicopter was also deployed in their service, adding that when a family becomes supreme, the country's security is at stake. "Ever imagined that a premier warship of the Indian armed forces could be used as a taxi for a personal holiday? One dynasty did it," PM Modi said. "INS Viraat was insulted by using it as a personal taxi. This happened when Rajiv Gandhi and his family was out for a 10-day vacation. INS Viraat was deployed for securing our maritime boundary. But it was diverted to take the Gandhi family which was out for a vacation," PM Modi said. PM Modi also claimed that after picking up the Gandhi family, INS Viraat halted at an island for 10 days. Referring to the anti-graft movement led by activist Anna Hazare, PM Modi said the 'nakaampanthis' failed it. Arvind Kejriwal, who was a part of the Anna movement, later formed the Aam Aadmi Party, a move that was opposed by Hazare. "They maligned the image of the common man (aam aadmi). The trust of crores of youths has been broken. They also failed the new political experiment. They came to change the country, but they changed themselves... The Congress is equally responsible for this 'nakaampanthi' model," PM Modi said. PM Modi said the AAP came to introduce a new political culture but became a "symbol of anarchy". Alluding to the apology issued by Arvind Kejriwal after several defamation suits were filed against him, including by Union ministers Arun Jaitley and Nitin Gadkari, PM Modi said they first made baseless allegations and then retracted only to tender an apology. "For their personal gains they took U-turn on their every promise. By abusing all constitutional institutions, individuals and even posts, they demonstrated their values, rather their immorality," PM Modi said. Listing out initiatives taken by the Centre for Delhi, PM Modi said the BJP has reduced pollution and traffic jam in the city by building eastern and western peripherals. "Inflation was always an important poll issue, but now opposition is not able to corner government on this," PM Modi added. PM Modi said while Congress talks about 'Nyay', but asked whether who will deliver justice to victims of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. He said the BJP ensured justice to the victims.<doc-sep>Traffic chaos fails to dampen spirits With street-plays and bhangra performances, the area outside Ramlila Maidan on Wednesday wore a festive look as Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the stage to address his first rally in Delhi this election season. Chanting “Jai Shri Ram”, those assembled at the venue said that the PM’s arrival was akin to “Lord Ram visiting”. Street-plays Next to a busy bus stand, a group was watching a street play named “Do us party ko vote, jisme na ho koi khot (Give vote to a party that has no flaws)”. It also referenced what Mr. Modi had done for the nation, including “Made in India” and “scaring off” Pakistan. A bus driver carrying a BJP flag and wearing a saffron-coloured cap stopped his vehicle to let off passengers, all of whom wore Modi Sarkar T-shirts, at the venue. After deboarding, they all joined the bhangra performance. Hardly anyone paid any attention to senior citizen Mohd. Sadique Zafar, who said he was disappointed with the current dispensation and complained about his woes arising due to demonetisation. While the overall mood was festive, traffic woes clouded the excitement for many. “Do you see the traffic on these roads? They [the BJP] call this their rally,” said a commuter. Zakir Hussain College student Om Prakash Gupta, who was on his way out from an examination, said that he would watch Mr. Modi’s “monologue” online. “I am not interested in the rally as there is no point struggling in the crowd when one can easily watch it online. Had it been a discussion involving the audience, then definitely I would have preferred to be part of the audience,” he said. Several children could be seen wearing Modi-masks outside the venue. When their guardians were asked whether they were BJP supporters, the parents said that the masks “caught their attention” and the children “pleaded them to get it”. Vendors providing packages of water free of cost were lined up outside the venue. “The party has provided water packages to us, so we are supplying them for free,” said the vendors, many of whom were from the Chandni Chowk constituency, where incumbent Dr. Harsh Vardhan is seeking re-election.<doc-sep>Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday lashed out at the Congress for saying that he should not refer to the armed forces as his own and reminded that party that the late Rajiv Gandhi had used INS Viraat for his personal holiday. ‘Rahul Gandhi says the armed forces are no one’s personal forces. But the Gandhi used INS Viraat as their personal taxi when Rajiv Gandhi as Prime Minister was on a 10-day holiday. The ship was on duty but was diverted to pick up the Gandhis. Rajiv Gandhi’s in-laws were also present. Should foreigners have been carried on an Indians warship? Wasn’t this playing with India’s security?” he said at an election rally at Ramlila grounds in Delhi where he also took a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party. Watch | Rajiv Gandhi used INS Viraat warship for family holiday: PM Modi attacks Cong INS Viraat, India’s first aircraft carrier, was formally decommissioned in March 2017. He went on to congratulate his own government for its anti-terror policy and hailed the designation of Jaish-e-Mohammad founder Masood Azhar as a global terrorist. “‘What seemed impossible earlier is now possible. India is on the way to become one of the world’s safest countries.’ PM Modi who had drawn fire after saying at a rally that “Rajiv Gandhi’s life ended as corrupt no. 1”, also insisted that it was fair to refer the events in the former PM’s life. “They want votes in the name of their ancestor but can’t stand any reference to their wrongdoings. If you ask for votes in some one’s name you should give an account of that person.” Modi also took on the Aam Aadmi Party and accused it of stalling developments in the capital with its disruptive agenda. ‘They came to change the county but the changed themselves. They just made wild allegation against so many people and then knelt to apologise.’ He also accused the Delhi government of denying facilities to the poor. “The Delhi government did not sign up for Ayushman Bharat which is meant to procide medical facilities for the poor. Delhi’s poor are also getting the benefit of 10% reservation that the Centre had announced.<doc-sep>
With inputs from PTI Gandhi family used INS Viraat for vacations: PM Narendra Modi NEW DELHI: In a sensational charge, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday accused the Gandhi family of using warship INS Viraat as its "personal taxi" when Rajiv Gandhi was the prime minister.Addressing his first poll rally in Delhi ahead of the May 12 elections for seven seats, Modi alleged that the Congress insulted the warship by using it for vacations of Gandhi family.Modi's attack on the late prime minister comes close on the heels of his allegation that Gandhi died as a "brashtachari no 1". "INS Viraat was insulted by using it as a personal taxi. This happened when Rajiv Gandhi and his family was out for a 10-day vacation. INS Viraat was deployed for securing our maritime boundary. But it was diverted to take the Gandhi family which was out for a vacation," Modi said.He also claimed that after picking up the Gandhi family, INS Viraat halted at an island for 10 days. "Rajiv Gandhi was accompanied by his in-laws who had come from Italy. Question is whether the security of the country was not compromised by taking foreigners onboard a warship," he asked.In an apparent attack on the AAP, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said they supported the 'tukde-tukde' gang and brought the "nakampanthi" model of governance to the national capital. "Delhi has seen 'nakampanthi' model of governance. People had come to change the country, but they themselves. They supported 'tukde tukde' gang and strengthened India's enemies," he said, without naming the AAP.Explaining the term 'Nakampanthi', which he used in reference to the AAP government, Modi said it means "not allowing Centre's Ayushmaan Bharat in Delhi hospitals".He said the BJP has reduced pollution and traffic jam in Delhi by building eastern and western peripherals. "Inflation was always an important poll issue, but now opposition is not able to corner government on this," he added.