Uttar Pradesh is with BJP, says PM Modi at rally in Barabanki

Lucknow, Feb 23: Prime Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed confidence that the Yogi-Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party will come to power in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing a rally in Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said "Today, 15 crore people, who are getting free ration in UP, are working hard for the victory of BJP. The poor, middle class, elders who got 28 crore free vaccines during this corona pandemic, they are ensuring its victory by becoming representatives of BJP."

"It is this corona vaccine due to which today, the youth are able to go to school and college. Business has resumed. This is why UP is saying...Only BJP will come back to power! Only Yogi will come back to power," he said.

PM Modi took a swipe at rivals for claiming that they can understand people's pain more than those who have no family, saying for him, UP and the entire country is family.

"We are not 'parivaar wala' but we identify the pain of all families because entire India is our family, entire Uttar Pradesh is my family. All of you are members of my family," PM Modi said.

"I would like to ask dynasts who say that they have a family & know the pain of families, why did they not care about Muslim daughters? They had to return to their father's home with their young children. Why did they not feel the pain of families?," he said.

"Previous govts had closed their eyes from needs & problems of our daughters. If they had even a little empathy, would they have given freedom to goons who used to molest our school-going daughters? Today goons know that if they cross boundaries, strict action will be taken," he added.

The prime minister also highlighted the large scale recruitment of women in Uttar Pradesh Police as well as in the army.

Modi talked about launching vaccination drives for animals and also caring for the marginal farmers by giving money directly in their bank account.