Support me against black money; will never take any step which may hurt honest citizens: Narendra Modi

Ghazipur: Setting the tone for BJP's poll campaign in Uttar Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed a rally at Ghazipur in the Uttar Pradesh

"The state played a key role in giving us an absolute majority. I salute this land (Ghazipur) which gave birth to Vir Abdul Hamid, who taught Pakistan a lesson in 1965 war," PM Modi said while addressing the rally. 

"I had come here in May 2014, that time I had come to seek your support and you placed your faith in me. It's my privilege to be here and get blessings of the citizens of Ghazipur," Modi said. 

PM Modi also lauded the state for its contributions to the country and said, "Uttar Pradesh has given many prime ministers to the country. I am the ninth Prime Minister from Uttar Pradesh. Both Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and I share Uttar Pradesh's legacy. More than 5,000 jawans have come from this great state."

Modi also remembered country's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 127th birth anniversary and said, "Congress didn't follow what Nehru said. In 1962, Pandit Ji formed a committee after Ghazipur MP told him about the dire state of poor in Purvanchal. Many PMs came and went after Pandit Nahru passed away but that committee report is still lost in files. Today on Pandit Ji's birthday I pledge to reopen those files, which his party and family PMs never did. It's my tribute to India's first Prime Minister."

Acknowledging the hardship being faced by people in India post the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, PM Modi said, "There’s no shortage of money in India, the problem lies in where the money is. I am aware of the hardship people are facing because of the move, but I assure you that the move was necessary for the larger interests of the nation."

"I know it's difficult and I salute the people for standing in a queue for long hours. Today, poor are sleeping in peace while rich are running around in search of sleeping pills, that's power of your vote. This move has taken away the power of the rich and poor people can now sleep peacefully," he added. 

Modi also appealed to the people to support the demonetisation of high currency notes, asking them to bear the pain for 50 days to help the government deliver the 'India of your dreams'.

"Pained by the inconvenience faced by common people but your inconvenience won't go in vain. The move will support poor. Give me 50 days and I will fulfill all my promises without fail," he said.

The Prime Minister said he was ready to face the consequences of his decision. "I know that I have taken up a fight with some forces. They may not spare me, they may ruin me because their loot of 70 years is in trouble. But it does not bother me," he said.

Adding that there were politicians who were wearing currency notes and now are trying to spread rumours among the people on demonetisation, Modi assured the people that days of graft were now over. 

"Do not pay heed to rumours, every single rupee earned honestly by you will always remain yours, till your brother is alive," Modi said in an emotional tone.

Launching a scathing attack on Congress for opposing the demonetisation move, PM Modi said, "You imposed an emergency and turned the country into a prison for 19 months just to save Indira Gandhi’s parliament seat. During those 19 months, you made this nation a prison and arrested so many people."

"It is surprising that people in Congress, their lawyer leaders are asking me under which law have I banned these currency notes, I want to ask them under which law did they ban the 25 paise," the PM said, while adding how a person did something which befitted his or her stature.

"You never went beyond 25 paise and we have done what was of our standing. You (Congress) exhorted money in 1972 and now you are protesting against the government for combating the issue of black money," he said. 

In an obvious reference to Pakistan, PM Modi said that the enemy nation was infusing fake currency in India to promote terror activities. 

"Our enemy is flooding our nation with these counterfeit notes. We need to put an end to this," he said. 

Before addressing the BJP's Parivartan Yatra rally at the RTI ground here, PM Modi laid the foundation of new rail and road bridge over Ganga connecting Tarighat and Mau and doubling of Ghazipur city-Ballia rail line. He also flagged off a new weekly express train between Ghazipur and Kolkata. 

Besides, he also dedicated the newly built perishable cargo centre at Ghazipur Ghat station on the occasion.

This is his first public address in Uttar Pradesh after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) kicked off the 'Parivartan Yatra'.

The BJP has started Parivartan Yatras from Saharanpur, Lalitpur, Ballia and Sonbhadra districts. After crossing through all the Assembly constituencies, it will culminate in Lucknow on December 24 with a rally, which will be addressed by the PM Modi. 

Besides highlighting the failures of the Uttar Pradesh government, the BJP is highlighting the achievements of the Modi government at the Centre during the yatra.