Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of a strong government in ensuring national security and progress during a poll rally in Haryana. Speaking on Saturday, he stated, “When there is a dhaakad sarkar (strong government), the enemy thinks 100 times before doing anything."
PM Modi pointed to Pakistan as an example, claiming that the country, which had long troubled India, now finds itself in a dire economic situation. "Pakistan had been troubling India for 70 years, it had bombs in its hands. Today, it has 'bheekh ka katora' (begging bowl) in its hands. When there is a 'dhaakad' government, enemies tremble," he said.
Highlighting the achievements of his administration, Modi cited the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir as a significant milestone that only a strong government could accomplish. "It was this 'dhaakad' government that brought down the wall of Article 370, which paved the way for Kashmir to move ahead on the path of development," he noted.Â
Article 370, which granted special autonomy to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, was revoked in 2019 by the BJP-led government, leading to the bifurcation of the state into two Union territories.
Modi questioned whether a weaker government could have undertaken such a decisive action in Jammu and Kashmir, implying that his administration's strength was crucial for such measures.Â
He also praised the people of Haryana, noting their patriotism and understanding of national security issues. "Patriotism runs in the veins of Haryana. The state understands anti-national forces. Therefore, each house in Haryana is saying -- phir ek baar" (once again), to which the crowd responded with "Modi sarkar" (Modi government).
The Prime Minister's remarks were made in the context of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with voting for Haryana’s 10 seats scheduled for May 25, during the sixth phase of the seven-phase election process.
