Oppn alliance will send country to ICU: PM
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday pitched the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as an election to fulfil people's aspirations after his government "fulfilled" their necessities, as he cautioned the BJP rank and file against any "smallest lapse" that may result in a setback like in 2004.
The Opposition's proposed grand alliance, which he called 'mahamilavat' (highly adulterated), will send the country to ICU (intensive care unit), Modi said, referring to "corruption and scams" under the previous UPA rule and describing the combine as a mixture of "oil and water" that will leave them useless.
In a video-interaction with BJP workers and sympathisers from across the country, he referred to the "experience of Atal ji" to say a smallest lapse may stop the fast-paced development under his government and "ease of corruption" and scams will rule again.
The first BJP-led NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had suffered an unexpected loss in the 2004 polls. Modi said the Vajpayee government's works "went in vain" as the country was pushed backwards under the subsequent Congress-led UPA rule of "corruption and scams".
Expressing confidence that the BJP will get to "serve" the country again, the prime minister said one more term for him will make the strong building raised by his government to become "grand and prosperous".
Citing the ongoing development works, he said, "If there is any lapse in 2019 (polls), this will all go down the drain."
Under his government, he said India has jumped to become the world's sixth largest economy from 11th and he wants it to go up to the third position.
"But a smallest of lapse can stop this fast pace of development. We have the experience of Atal ji. We have brought India's rank in the ease of doing business to 77 from 142. A slightest of lapse and ease of corruption will rule again," he said.
"Direct benefit transfer has stopped the loot of government money. A slightest of lapse and the loot by fixers will begin and corruption and huge scams may return again," Modi added, asserting that people have not forgotten scams relating to coal block allocations, 2G spectrum and the Commonwealth Games.
These alleged scams under the UPA government had become a major poll plank of the BJP in 2014 as Modi led it to its first ever majority government at the Centre.
Modi asked BJP workers to contact various sections of society, including first-time voters, and suggested that every booth worker should be in touch with 10 families.
