'Kattar Beiman': PM Modi tears into AAP over law and order, corruption in Punjab at Jalandhar rally

Jalandhar, Jul 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a broadside against the AAP government in Punjab dubbing it 'Kattar Beiman' that neither has clean intentions nor honesty, besides taking it on various issues including law and order, debt, corruption and poll promises. With elections in the state scheduled to be held early next year and the BJP deciding to go it alone, Modi, who was donning a green turban, said it is only his party which can bring real change in Punjab. The BJP will work to build a developed and prosperous Punjab, he added. Addressing a public gathering here after launching and laying foundation for rail and road infrastructure projects worth Rs 5,470 crore, including 75 redeveloped railway stations in 20 states across India, Modi did not limit his attack to just AAP, but also took on the Congress and the BJP's erstwhile ally SAD too on some issues. Modi reached Jalandhar after unveiling several projects in Chandigarh and Haryana's Jind, where he flagged off India's first hydrogen-powered train. Invoking Maharaja Ranjit Singh, Modi said under his rule, there is prosperity, security, and communal harmony. "But what is happening in Punjab today is no secret to anyone," he said as he attacked the Bhagwant Mann government over various issues including law and order, rising debt, poll promises." "The AAP's identity is that of a 'Kattar Beiman' party," Modi alleged. "Here, advertisements are being used to conceal the picture of 'vishwasghat' (betrayal). Today, the law and order situation in Punjab is in shambles. No one can predict when or where a gang war might erupt or from which direction bullets may start flying. Doing business has become increasingly difficult. Extortion demands are being made openly, and even police stations are no longer safe," he said. Attacks on police stations have become a frequent occurrence, he said, referring to the incidents of grenade attacks at many police stations in Punjab. On the drug menace, Modi said most tragically, Punjab's future is also being destroyed. "Drug traffickers are roaming freely, and the youth of Punjab are being pushed into the trap of drug addiction," he alleged. He said people who are in power in Punjab once arrogantly claimed that they would transform politics of the country. "But today, the entire nation is seeing their true face. Just two or three days ago, one of their leaders in Delhi (Tahir Hussain) was convicted by a court. He was found guilty in connection with riots and the murder of a police Intelligence Bureau officer. And look at their shamelessness, the court delivered its verdict based on evidence, yet these people are questioning the court's judgment." They are even trying to view the court's verdict through the prism of religion because of their vote-bank politics, he said. Modi was referring to the conviction of former AAP councillor Hussain and four others in the murder case of IB officer Ankit Sharma, who was attacked by a mob and his body dumped in a drain during the 2020 northeast Delhi riots. The prime minister also said a few days ago, one of their MLAs in Gujarat was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by a court. The sentence was awarded in a case involving an attack on government officials and extortion. "Extortion, illegal recovery, and unlawful encroachments have become the trademark of their politics. In many such cases, several of their leaders continue to face legal proceedings," he said. He also pointed out that under AAP rule in Punjab, the health minister was removed over allegations of bribery, while another minister was facing serious allegations of money laundering. He was referring to the then health minister Vijay Singla and minister Sanjeev Arora. "Their MLAs are being caught red-handed while accepting bribes. There are so many such cases that it is difficult to find people in either their government or their party who are free from any allegation," he said. Attacking the Mann government, Modi said the party in power in Punjab has neither clean intentions nor it is honest. He said the central government is making every possible effort to ensure that the people of Punjab benefit from every scheme launched by it. "However, under the 'Kattar Beiman' government, an open loot is taking place here," he further alleged. He said over the past 12 years, the Centre allocated lakhs of crores of rupees to Punjab. "This money could have been used to build village roads, canals, and agricultural markets. But the Punjab government failed to spend these funds where it was needed. This loot is also happening on borrowed funds." Modi alleged that a significant portion of debt, being raised in the name of Punjab, is being spent on servicing that debt, while those running the state government are enjoying the benefits of that money. He said the situation today is such that development work across Punjab has come to a standstill, alleging that the state government is merely putting its own sticker on projects funded by the government of India as he referred to the Ayushman Arogya Mandir. "Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which provides free treatment of up to Rs 5 lakh, is operational across the nation. Games are being played with it here as well," he claimed. On the occasion, Modi highlighted the works of BJP-ruled states including Delhi and Haryana and added in contrast to Haryana the farmers in Punjab are being given nothing under AAP but being betrayed. Modi further slammed the AAP government over the issue of pending arrears of the Punjab government employees. Government employees have to stage protests even to secure their rightful dues, he noted. On AAP's poll promise of giving Rs 1,000 to every woman, Modi said it betrayed mothers and sisters as well. They did not even remember the commitments they had made. By now, Rs 50,000 should have been credited to the accounts of women beneficiaries. Instead, all they have received are false promises, he said. Taking on the Congress over internal rift in its Punjab unit, Modi said infighting over the chief minister's chair seems never-ending. They are not fighting for Punjab's interests, they are fighting for a chair, he said. Modi also lashed out at the Sukhbir Badal-led Shiromani Akali Dal, former ally of the BJP, and said its leaders are caught up in own self-interests and are unconcerned about welfare of people of Punjab. Only the BJP can make Punjab self-reliant. Only the BJP government can bring new investment to Punjab, create new employment opportunities, and ensure that products made in Punjab reach markets across the world, he said. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, and senior state BJP leaders were also present. PTI CHS SUN VSD ZMN