PM candidate Modi calls for 'strong' leadership at Centre

But doesn't return to his usual combative self yet

In his first speech as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) prime ministerial candidate, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi called for strong leadership at the Centre.

Modi was addressing a rally for ex-servicemen here. He criticised the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for indulgence in ‘vote-bank’ politics, ignorance towards the concerns of the armed forces, and for being soft on Pakistan and China.

“Until we have a strong government, we cannot ensure the security of the country,” said Modi. Berating the UPA government at Centre, he added: “I have not heard good news for the past 10 years. Every day we are surrounded by new troubles. Is Pakistan, China intruding on borders because of the Army’s weakness? The problem is not at the border but in Delhi. It has to be corrected from Delhi, too.”

However, the usually aggressive Modi appeared a little less combative. His speech also did not touch upon critical issues such as the present economic slowdown, inflation and rising corruption. There was no mention of Hindutava or Ram Janmabhoomi either.

“I can hear the sound of Haryana, which is challenging the seat of power in Delhi,” said the Gujarat chief minister.

From early morning, people from all walks of life - farmers on foot, students in hired buses and others in imported sports utility vehicles — started assembling at the venue. The crowd of about 100,000 people was so eager to get a glimpse of Modi that the police had to use force to keep them from going out of control.

“He is surely the next prime minister,” said Rajveer, 32, who came from neighbouring Mahendragarh district.

In his speech, Modi asked those who question his secularism to “take lessons in secularism from the Army”. He said the UPA government had committed a ‘sin’ by asking the Sachar committee to count the number of Hindus and Muslims in the Army. In 2006, the Rajinder Sachar committee had recommended carrying a headcount of Muslims in the Army. However, the recommendation was turned down by then Army Chief J J Singh and later by Defence Minister A K Antony.

Modi also had a word of advice for Pakistan. “If for 10 years, Pakistan shuns violence and instead focuses on poverty, illiteracy and superstition, then it will start progressing, too.”

Although the present rally was planned much before Modi’s formal anointment as BJP’s PM candidate on September 13, the party is banking on the state to improve its electoral prospects in the Lok Sabha elections. From wooing ex-servicemen through proposals such as ‘one-rank, one-pay’, the party is negotiating with allies by bringing in Om Prakash Chautala’s Indian National Lok Dal and Kuldip Bishnoi’s Haryana Janhit Congress.

Bishnoi attended Sunday’s rally at Rewari. In the 1999 election, when Modi was the party in-charge of the state, the BJP had won five seats while Indian National Lok Dal bagged the remaining five seats. In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Congress won nine seats out of 10, while one seat was retained by Bishnoi’s Haryana Janhit Congress.

The rally was also attended by retired army generals, including General V K Singh and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri.