Prime Minister Narendra Modi will ‘slay’ this Ravana at the Ramlila Ground in Aishbagh, Lucknow today. (Source: IE)Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address people during Dussehra celebration in Lucknow today. According to reports, he would also burn the effigy of evil king Ravan in the Ramleela Ground at Aishbagh, a small locality in the city. At a time when Uttar Pradesh is bracing for Assembly elections in the state, several questions have been raised over the timing of PM’s visit. In the last few days, the Opposition parties have attacked the BJP for allegedly playing politics over the recent surgical strikes carried out by the Indian Army in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Before PM’s arrival, the Opposition continues to attack the PM, blame him for doing politics over surgical strikes. However, BJP says he is the PM of the country and what is wrong if he chooses to visit any part of the country.
Some are also wondering as to what would be the content of PM’s speech when he addresses the gathering at Aishbagh. Will it fuel politics further or be something else. Here we present five things that can be expected from his speech.
1. Surprise
Considering the fact that PM Modi never fails to surprise the country, one can expect something out of the box. After the surgical strikes, it was expected he would launch a verbal offensive against Pakistan during a BJP event in Kozhikode. However, he surprised everyone by calling upon Pakistani citizens to fight a war against poverty, diseases and illiteracy with India. One can expect the same today.
ALSO READ: LIVE: PM Modi lands in Lucknow; to address public on Dussehra today
2. Speech to end politics over surgical strikes
Recently PM Modi had warned his ministers to avoid sharing their “expert opinion” on surgical strikes with people and media. As the politics over surgical strikes intensified after some BJP leaders put up posters underplaying the role of Army in surgical strikes, PM Modi may seek to use the Dussehra occasion to put an end to politics over the surgical strikes. He may even issue a veiled warning to BJP leaders from politicising the surgical strikes.
Poverty, education
BJP dreams to bring ‘Ram Rajya’ in India but it can’t come in the absence of education and amidst prevailing poverty. Like the Khozikode speech, PM Modi would like to talk about these issues again in the poll-bound state.
4. Praise of Army
PM Modi will certainly praise the valour of Indian Army for the surgical strikes. They deserve it and all politicians are free to praise the Army. He may also pay his tributes to those jawans who have lost their lives fighting for the country.
5. Warning to Pakistan, terrorists
PM Modi will likely speak against Pakistan and terrorism. Pakistan still talks about Kashmir and retaliation against India, while terrorists across the border continue to engage the Indian Army in Kashmir. PM Modi would like to use the opportunity to once again warn Pakistan to stop taking India for granted and appeal to the country to fight against terrorism, poverty, diseases, illiteracy etc.