Gautam Buddha Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 23 : Amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday addressed a public rally in Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar and campaigned for BJP candidate Mahesh Sharma and said that the economy of Uttar Pradesh will reach up to $1 trillion in the coming years.
Addressing the rally, Rajnath Singh said, "Earlier, Uttar Pradesh was counted among poor states, and today, you can say that the double-engine government has created a miracle. Today, Uttar Pradesh is not counted among the poor states and in a few years, you will see that the economy of the state will reach $1 trillion... UP will contribute to the country's one-fifth of economic development."
Praising Noida, the defence minister said that the place is now known for its tourism and better law and order. "In earlier times, it was said that if there is any big centre for corruption, then it is Noida, but today, I can say with pride that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Noida is no longer a centre of corruption, but is one of the biggest business centres of India... Today, not just in UP but in the whole of India, if there is a place that is known for tourism and better law and order, it is Noida."
Singh also talked about his term as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and said that he was the first one to take the proposal of Jewar Airport to the government. "I remember when I was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, I was the first one to take forward the proposal of Jewar airport to the government... I would like to express my gratitude to PM Modi and CM Adityanath, who took the resolution that no matter what happens... airport will be constructed in Jewar... And today, the construction of Jewar airport is in full swing."
Hailing the BJP for fulfilling its promises, Singh said that BJP is the only Indian party that does what it says. "Hamare kehne aur karne me koi antar nai raha," he said.
He added further, "Since 1951, I had said that the day we will get the majority in both houses, we will abrogate Article 370 and we did that. Now Jammu & Kashmir has the same status that other Indian states have. Since 1984, we have said that when we form the government at the centre, Ayodhya will get Ram Mandir... You have seen that a magnificent Ram Mandir has been built in Ayodhya..."
Attacking the Congress party for mentioning about conducting a survey of wealth and property, Singh said, "What do you want to do by conducting the survey? Do you want to equally distribute the resources of the nation? I want to say to the Congress that they should clear this issue."
During the rally, the defence minister also stepped up his attacks on the Congress by saying that the party ended reservations for SCs and STs in Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University.
He said, "A commission by Congress had said that in the 27% reservation for OBCs, 6% should be for Muslims and 2% for Minorities. We didn't made this commission.... They also ended the reservation of SCs and STs in Jamia Millia Islamia University and Aligarh Muslim University. By dividing the nation on Hindus and Muslims, they formed the government. BJP doesn't want to divide the nation based on caste, creed, and religion... We want to take everyone together and make India a great country."
The Gautam Buddha Nagar Lok Sabha seat will witness a triangular fight between BJP, Samajwadi Party (SP), and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and will go to the polls in the second phase on April 26.
BJP's Mahesh Sharma will be in the electoral fray against INDIA bloc candidate Mahendra Singh Nagar on the SP ticket while the BSP, who is fighting alone, has fielded Rajendra Singh Solanki.