For 14 years, development has been on exile in UP: Modi

Lucknow: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the Parivartan rally in Lucknow, even as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his father and Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav are engaged in a power tussle.

"I have never seen such a good turnout for a rally in my life, not even when I was campaigning to be the Prime Minister of the country," the Prime Minister said.

"Lucknow is the home of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Many great people like him have spent their entire lives here," he added.

"For 14 years (of non-BJP governments) Uttar Pradesh has been forced into vanvaas (exile) from development," Modi said, adding, “We need to change the future of Uttar Pradesh to see the nation flourish".

Modi demanded to know from the Samajwadi Party government why sugarcane farmers in the state have still not been paid.

“Unfortunate that development is not priority for the rulers here,” Modi said as he took a dig at the Samajwadi Party government in the state.

"I can understand that two parties may be engaged in political fights. But politics should not be played with the people. It is unfortunate that development is not priority for the rulers here," the Prime Minister added.

The Prime Minister took a dig at ruling SP and Mayawati's BSP for seeking his "removal" over the demonetisation move.

"Have you ever seen BSP and SP together? When BSP says sun is rising, SP will say sun is setting. But both agree on 'Modi hatao'," Modi said.

“Vote for the development of Uttar Pradesh, forgetting all caste and creed. They say remove Modi I say remove black money, they say remove Modi, I say remove corruption. You decide what we want to remove,” he added.

Modi urged the people to vote for UP's development, forgetting caste and creed.

Taking a dig at Congress, Modi said some parties are no longer even visible in UP.

“One party is trying to establish their son in the state for the last 15 years, but has still not understood the problem,” Modi stated mocking Rahul Gandhi.

As for Samajwadi Party, Modi remarked that it is busy in trying to save the Yadav family from splitting.

The Prime Minister claimed that in contrast, the ‘high command’ of the BJP are the people of India.

People from across the state including Awadh, Kanpur and Brij regions arrived in Lucknow for Modi's rally despite the winter chill.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, senior leaders Rajnath Singh, Kalraj Mishra and Uma Bharti also attended the rally.

The people from every nook and corner of the state including Awadh, Kanpur and Brij regions have already started arriving in Lucknow despite the winter chill.

The rally is seen as a culmination of the four Parivartan yatras carried out by the BJP in the state recently.

It will be the first rally by Prime Minister Modi after the expiry of 50-day grace period of demonetisation on December 30.

The Prime Minister in a televised address to the nation on New Year's Eve announced several measures for the rural and urban poor, small businesses, farmers and senior citizens.