Nashik (Maharashtra): Citing the example of the Easter Sunday bombings in Sri Lanka that killed nearly 300 people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday claimed that India is now virtually "terror-free" barring some pockets of Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing an election rally at Pimpalgaon in Nashik district, Modi said: "Scores were killed in Sri Lanka when terrorists struck at the innocent Christians peacefully engaged in prayers in churches, yesterday (Sunday)."
"What was the situation in India prior to 2014? There were regular terror strikes in Maharashtra, Ayodhya, Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country. The (then) Congress-Nationalist Congress Party government just mourned and kept crying about Pakistan."
"But after coming to power in 2014, your 'Chowkidar' changed that strategy and rammed the terrorists inside their dens and the result is before all to see," he said, referring to the February 26 Indian Air Force strikes in Balakot, Pakistan, after the February 14 Pulwama attack which killed 40 CRPF troopers.
"Terror is now practically erased from the country, barring some pockets in Jammu and Kashmir but even there, our security forces regularly keep killing the terrorists... The terrorists are scared that under 'Modi' they cannot escape punishment."
Later, at a rally in Nandurbar, Modi assured that nobody would change the structure of reservations till he is at the helm of affairs.
He assured the predominantly tribal farmers here that their lands are safe and sought the people to vote for "a strong government at the Centre", as due to corruption in the Congress-led government, nothing had been done for the people of north Maharashtra.
Modi promised he would strive to increase the farmers' incomes by enabling production of ethanol from sugarcane which the previous Congress-NCP governments never bothered for.
"This will give you higher remuneration prices for your sugarcane, ethanol mixed with petrol would reduce the prices of petrol, reduce the oil bills burden on the country". Earlier, only 40 crore litres ethanol was produced, not it has gone up to 140 crore litres. The previous government had knowledge of all of this but they never bothered as it would remove the 'cream' of their earnings," Modi said.
He expressed optimism that the BJP-NDA would sweep to power at the Centre after which the government would implement further welfare measures.