UP Assembly Elections 2017: PM Narendra Modi dubs Kanpur train accident cross-border conspiracy, SP questions it

Gonda : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday termed last November's train accident in Kanpur a conspiracy hatched from across the border and urged people not to vote for those "who help conspirators".

The Prime Minister, referring to the November 20 derailment of the Indore-Patna Express train near Kanpur which killed over a 100 passengers, said police investigations have found that it was a conspiracy, and the conspirators were "on the other side of the border".

He pointed out that Gonda shares its border with Nepal. 

"Few days back, there was a train accident... some people were caught and the police found out that it was a conspiracy... the conspirators are on the other side of the border," Modi said.

He, however, did not clarify if he was referring to the Nepal border or Pakistan border.

He said people should not vote for anyone who would "help conspirators from across the border".

"If the enemies want to run their business from the other side of the border, people in Gonda need to be cautious. If people who help the conspirators are elected, will Gonda be safe? If Gonda is not safe, will the nation be safe?" Modi said.

"Gonda needs to elect only those who are full of patriotism; only then can we do anything good for Gonda. There should be no mistake in elections; whether it is the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party -- none of them should win. Vote for the BJP and make it victorious," he said.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson C.P. Rai questioned the Prime Minister's motive in raking up the issue.

"If indeed evidence has been found, is a (public) rally the right platform (to discuss it)? Has the Prime Minister or the External Affairs Ministry summoned the High Commissioner of Pakistan and put the evidence of their involvement before them?" he said.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is investigating the role of Pakistan's ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence) in the Indore-Patna Express train accident.

The conspiracy angle came out after Bihar Police arrested Moti Paswan, Umashankar Prasad and Mukesh Yadav for their alleged role in the derailment and claimed they had links with the ISI.

Paswan, according to police, had confessed that he was paid to plant explosives in the train and that the ISI had executed the derailment plan. He said the money he received came from ISI sympathiser Shamshul Huda based in Dubai. 

Huda was arrested by Nepal Police who claim he has not confessed to his role in the Kanpur case. The Uttar Pradesh police however maintains there was no sabotage in Kanpur as no craters, or explosives, were found on the track at the accident spot.

Speaking at the Gonda rally, Modi also accused the Akhilesh Yadav-led-SP government of protecting and patronising the "copying mafia" in the state which, he said, was harming the future of the youth.

The Prime Minister said the mafia was not only out to loot the poor but was also engaged in jeopardising the future of the youth.

Modi said: "When I was thinking about speaking on the issue, I must honestly admit I was slightly scared as this topic heard on television... could give ideas to anti- social elements in other parts of the country to replicate the SP modus operandi."

Amid the applause from his audience, Modi said the "copying mafia" business has to end.

He also slammed law and order in Uttar Pradesh, saying: "No justice can be expected at police stations (in Uttar Pradesh) as they are helpless. They wait for nod from SP bosses."

Urging the people to uproot the state government that he claimed was corrupt, Modi also warned them against the Bahujan Samaj Party led by Mayawati.

Modi claimed the BJP had got huge public support in the first four phases of polling in Uttar Pradesh and said the writing on the wall was evident from downcast looks of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

"You have given a stable government at the Centre... and now you have to strengthen our hands further...," he appealed to voters.