Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to visit Ferozepur, Punjab to inaugurate projects that would have given a INR 43000 crore boost to the infrastructure of the state in a time bound manner. Also scheduled simultaneously was a visit to the Hussainiwala memorial to pay respects to the martyrs and freedom fighters of Punjab and address a rally of the BJP+ alliance.
The prime minister could not reach Ferozepur due to a security breach that has shaken the entire nation and is now being investigated under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court. The matter, being sub-judice, cannot be commented upon but what can be said is that opposition parties used the incident to create a wave of apprehension across Punjab. It was alleged that Punjab will be put under President's rule and the elections would be postponed. The ruling Congress even attempted to give the incident a Punjab versus rest of India spin.
It goes to the credit of the Union Government that it dealt with the huge crisis with utmost maturity. While the incident was kept within the confines of a security crisis that needed to be thoroughly investigated, no political vendetta was resorted to. No move was made to put the state under President rule, instead, the election commission announced the elections within three days of the incident occurring. This was an exhibition of democracy at its best considering that there are earlier instances where other parties, while in power, declared Presidents rule in states for far smaller reasons.
Not only that, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh on 9 January, 2022, personally declared 26 December as "Veer Bal Dives" to honour the sacrifice of the Sahibzadas (sons of Guru Gobind Singh). He, so clearly, exhibited his love and respect for Punjab and all Punjabis, especially Sikhs. He put a firm cap on all abrasive rhetoric that was being generated because of the security breach, mostly on social media through the forces that wish to generate unrest in Punjab.
The will of the BJP+ alliance to work selflessly for Punjab was exhibited during the course of this very serious incident of breach of the prime minister's security. The alliance has firmly exhibited its confidence of winning over Punjab on the strength of the ballot.
The people have noticed that while the other parties make promises of small doles like free/subsidised electricity, free bus passes, free water, money to women etc the BJP+ alliance speaks of good governance, rapid double-engine growth, fool proof law and order, enhanced employment opportunities, good health and education facilities etc. The doles being offered by other parties are, in fact, going against them since Punjabis are too proud to extend their hands out to for help, they are looking for an honourable life where they get due remuneration for their hard work. They realise that only the BJP can provide such a life.
The people of Punjab are, by now, well aware of the good intentions of the BJP+ alliance and the goodwill that Prime Minister Narendra Modi holds towards them. They are also well aware of the fact that the other parties simply do not have the means to do any good for Punjab; they will only suck the state and its people dry to fill their own coffers.
The wave, therefore, is fast converging in favour of the BJP+ alliance, it being the only entity on ground that can provide credible good governance of the type that can propel Punjab to its lost glory of being the number one state in the country.
(The writer is Spokesperson of BJP in Punjab. The views expressed in this article are his personal.)