"Never seen people bless one leader in any election": Piyush Goyal lauds PM Modi

New Delhi [India], May 27 : Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that there was overwhelming enthusiasm among voters on polling day in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, to make India a global power and have immense faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave me the opportunity to contest the polls in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. I have never seen people bless one leader in any election. I have seen in the last 40 years how difficult it is to make voters get out of their house to vote at 7 am, how hard it is to make people involved in the voting process," Goyal said speaking to ANI on Monday.
"This time people of India themselves used to come to attend all party programs, there used to be long queues from 7 to 7:30 am at every polling booth. This shows that people are positive to make India vishwaguru, a Vishwashakti, a Visksit Bharat. They have faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is visible in this election wherever you go," the Union Minister said.
Goyal took a morning walk and interacted with people, as part of his election campaign in Varanasi, which is going to polls on June 1.
The Union Minister exuded confidence in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led National Development Alliance (NDA) winning more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and also predicted a clean sweep in favour of the BJP in Varanasi and the Purvanchal region.
"People are going to give PM Modi more than 400 seats. The development that Benaras has seen in the last 10 years will be taken forward in a big way. I believe that there will be a clean sweep in favour of PM Modi whether in Banaras or in the entire Purvanchal," Goyal said.
In response to the Opposition that the ruling party will not be able to win as many seats as it has targetted, Goyal said that the INDIA bloc is uncomfortable with Prime Minister Narendra Modi being welcomed by people across the country.
"They (INDIA bloc) are a conglomeration of corrupt individuals who do not say anything about the country except for saving their country. The way PM Modi is being welcomed with enthusiasm throughout the country, the way he has conquered the hearts of people so fast and people are blessing him, it seems that the INDI alliance is facing difficulties and so they are making such statements to make their point," Goyal said.
The Opposition has claimed that the BJP will not be able to fulfil its target of winning more than 400 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and is scared of its poll outcome.
Goyal questioned why the roadshow held by leaders of the INDIA bloc Priyanka Gandhi and Samajwadi Party in Varanasi on Saturday was cut short. He further questioned if it was a sign of admitting defeat by the Opposition.
"A roadshow was held the day before yesterday here. Why was it stopped midway? What was the reason that the leader had to leave mid-way? It was as if to give a message that they had surrendered," the Union Minister said.
Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav's roadshow was cut short mid-way after covering a distance of about two kilometres, instead of the entire stretch of 3.6 kilometres on Saturday. The Congress and the Samajwadi Party are partners in the INDIA bloc.
In response to accusations by the Opposition of BJP politicising the Ram Mandir issue ahead of the polls, Goyal said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has brought an end to the 500-years-old struggle, the 500-years-old exile of Lord Ram, and brought Him home by constructing a huge temple at his birthplace, fulfilling the wishes of people and paying respect to their beliefs. Through this, PM Modi has taken care of the country's belief, its pride and its heritage."
Pointing out that the Opposition is in a dilemma over accepting the Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir at Ayodhya, Goyal said that he fears that even the temple at Ayodhya is not safe in their hands.
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always said that Vikas and Virasaat should go hand-in-hand. I think this is making the Opposition uncomfortable. They are not able to decide if they will be praising the Mandir. I fear, that the way they are giving statements, they may even snatch away Lord Shri Ram from us. If you look at the Opposition and the INDI alliance leaders' statements, it seems that even the Mandir is not safe," the Union Minister said.
The senior BJP leader highlighted that Lord Ram does not belong to any one section of the population but to all countrymen.
"I believe that PM Modi and the country's 140 crore people have immense faith in Lord Shri Ram. Maryada Purushottam does not belong to anyone, in particular. He belongs to everyone. Maryada Purushottam does not belong to one section of the society but is in the hearts of every citizen of India whether in the country or in the world," Goyal said.
Goyal hinted that the Opposition knows that people will vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi under whose leadership the Ram Mandir was built.
"I believe that the Opposition understands this well. They fear that the way Lord Ram has blessed PM Modi and the country, the way countrymen and PM Modi have worshipped Lord Ram, the way the Mandir has been constructed and the Pran Pratishtha that was done, the Opposition has understood that people will vote for the one who has brought Lord Ram," he said.
Speaking about his experience of coming to the holy city of Benaras, Goyal said, "For me, Benaras is a pilgrimage spot. Since 2013, PM Modi has made Benaras his own family and I have had the opportunity to connect with everyone here. I have had the opportunity to come here several times and stay connected with various (government) schemes here. Whenever I come to Benaras I find solace and feel proud to see how it is progressing."
PM Modi is a two-time MP from Varanasi. Winning the seat with a resounding majority in 2014 and 2019, he is seeking a third straight win from the constituency. The voting here will be held on June 1 in the last phase. The counting of votes is scheduled for June 4.
This time he is facing Congress candidate Ajay Rai, who is the opposition INDIA bloc's joint nominee against the Prime Minister.