BJP tom- toms Assam success in UP

Allahabad, June 13: Minutes after the two-day BJP tiol Executive meet was over, Prime Minister rendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah addressed a rally in Allahabad, virtually kicking off the campaign for next year's assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. They spoke of the development the BJP has brought and how under the current Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in the state, the people have been shortchanged.

In his address, Modi began by underscoring the importance of the elections in Uttar Pradesh, reminding them of the watershed that the recent election in Assam has been. "The BJP had no power in Northeastern states previously, but now that isn't so," he told the Parivartan rally.

"UP also needs an Assam-type change," he exhorted. Modi then asked the crowd to switch on their mobile phone lights and wave them in a gesture to thank the people of Assam.

Modi said development is the answer to all woes and problems facing Uttar Pradesh. "The state is afflicted with the evils of favouritism, casteism and commulism. There is a solution to every problem and that solution is development," he said.

Targeting the SP government in Uttar Pradesh over "goonda raj" (lawlessness), Modi said the road to success lies in adopting "vikasvaad" (development) while rejecting "jativaad" (casteism) and "bhai-bhatijavaad" (nepotism).

"To make the yaj of development successful, one must sacrifice arrogance, casteism, commulism and self-interest," Modi said.