NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted his party’s relationship with Delhi, talking about its contributions since the days of the Jan Sangh, BJP’s parent body.Speaking at the inauguration of the newly-built office of the BJP’s Delhi unit on Deen Dayal Upadhyay (DDU) Marg, the prime minister said, “Since the Jan Sangh was founded, we have worked to serve the people of Delhi in every way.” The prime minister said Jan Sangh members helped rehabilitate those who came to Delhi after partition. He further said leaders like LK Advani and VK Malhotra gave voice to Delhi residents when the Metropolitan Council was formed. During the Emergency, he said, Jan Sangh leaders stood with Delhi citizens against government oppression. The prime minister also remembered the 1984 Sikh riots, saying BJP workers protected the city’s Sikh community wherever possible.Paying tribute to veteran party leaders, PM Modi said, “Countless leaders like Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj devoted their lives to the party.”Also read: ‘If Operation Sindoor was ongoing … ‘: Congress slams PM Modi’s post after India’s Asia Cup win; row over playing matchThe prime minister used the occasion to criticise Congress over its tax policy before the BJP came to power in 2014. “‘Yeh Bayaan-bahadur’ (Bold statement-makers) are experts at making false statements every day. But let me expose them. What was the state of income tax in our country until 2014? Incomes above 2 lakh rupees were taxable. Today, incomes up to 12 lakh rupees are taxed at zero,” he said.The prime minister further criticised the opposition for acting against public interest by doing the “opposite” of what they promise. He cited Himachal Pradesh, where he said the government increased cement prices right after GST reductions, “filling their coffers” instead of passing benefits to the people. “The government in Himachal immediately started looting what should have gone to the people,” he alleged.
