Bahraich rally: PM Modi regrets inability to be with people

As Parliament remained deadlocked over demonetisation, PM Modi on Sunday came down heavily on Opposition parties.

Bahraich: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday regretted the fact that he could not address the people in person at a rally here due to bad weather.

He tweeted: "I thank all those who joined the Bahraich rally in this weather and regret my inability to be with the people."

I thank all those who joined the Bahraich rally in this weather & regret my inability to be with the people.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2016

He also said:

Due to poor weather conditions, I couldn't reach the venue of the Bahraich rally but I did share a few words via phone.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2016

Spoke about NDA Govt's pro-poor & anti-corruption measures & emphasised on making UP free from menace of poverty & Goondaism.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 11, 2016

PM Modi addressed BJP's Parivartan Yatra here through mobile phone from Lucknow after the IAF chopper carrying him failed to land due of poor visibility in Bahraich, which is close to Terai region of Nepal.

As Parliament remained deadlocked over demonetisation, he came down heavily on Opposition parties describing them as "discarded" by the electorate and accused them of trying to "suppress" the truth.

"Parliament is not being allowed to function for 20 days. We are ready for debate (on demonetisation), but we are not being allowed to present our viewpoint by those very parties that have been discarded by the electorate," he said even as the Winter Session is left with three more working days.

PM Modi said these parties never wanted to tread the path of honesty "but we will definitely win this fight against corruption," as per PTI.

"They (opposition) come to the Well of the House... Throw paper at the Speaker. We want to put forth government's viewpoint... But they are not allowing us to do so. In a way they are trying to suppress the truth," PM Modi rued.

On demonetisation, he said, "You must have seen that the government is after people who have stashed black money. The government is committed to empowering the poor. People are also taking pain to ensure that the country moves on the path of development."

The Prime Minister said senior bank officials have been nabbed during the crackdown against black money and added his government is "of the poor and for the poor and whosoever troubles the poor will not be spared."

Attacking rival Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Modi said both the parties are talking in similar refrain.

As Parliament remained bogged in pandemonium with uproar over demonetisation becoming the order of the day, the Prime Minister alleged SP and BSP were facing hardship because of note ban.

"People of Uttar Pradesh know this very well, I need not elaborate," he said.

Referring to people standing in queues outside banks and ATMs, PM Modi sarcastically said their problem was different from the "hardships" faced by the corrupt and the dishonest.

"I am confident that we will emerge victorious in our fight to help the honest," he said. 

(With Agency inputs)