PM Modi promises inclusive growth, flays previous governments

Accusing the previous governments of neglecting development schemes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said his government at the Centre was looking forward to a ‘New India’ to ensure inclusive growth.

“The ‘New India’ will ensure education for children, jobs for unemployed, medicine for the poor and irrigation facility for farmers. The ‘New India’ will have all the facilities and the system will be transparent,” Modi said after launching development projects worth over Rs 4,000 crore in Mirzapur.

“The government aims to double farmers’ income by 2022 and end the divide between the rich and the poor,” he said.

The PM also dedicated the Bansagar canal project to the nation, laid the foundation stone for the Mirzapur Medical College, inaugurated 108 Jan Aushadhi Kendras and launched various development projects. He also dedicated a bridge over the Ganga at Balughat, Chunar, which will facilitate connectivity between Mirzapur and Varanasi.

Terming the Vindhyas as ‘divya’ (divine) and ‘alaukik’ (supernatural), he said the place enjoyed the blessings of Maa Vindhyavasini and promised all round development of the region.

Targeting the previous governments on farmers’ issues, Modi said: “Those who are shedding crocodile tears for farmers today, you must ask them why they didn’t complete irrigation projects when they were in power. Why did they leave these works incomplete?”

He said had the previous governments completed the Bansagar project, the foundation of which was laid in 1978, the country could have saved a lot of money.

“When the foundation of the project was laid, its estimated cost was Rs 300 crore, which has now gone up to Rs 3,500 crore. Are they not responsible for the wastage of public money? Had Bansagar project been completed earlier, you would have been benefited by it two decades ago,” he said.

He added that Bansagar was not the only project which was neglected by previous governments and added his government identified all developments projects that were stuck and brought them on track.

He appealed to the people to use the water of Bansagar project as ‘prasad’ of Maa Vindhyavasini and save water.

Modi said farmers should take up bamboo farming to increase their income.

“Those who are now indulging in politics in the name of farmers had no time to raise the minimum support price. They sat on files. We raised the MSP by 1.5 times,” he said.

“A recent international report says five crore people have come out of poverty in the last two years. Isn’t this the fruit of the government’s schemes?” asked Modi.

“Ujjala Yojana freed women from firewood stoves and helped them spend more time with the family. Five crore bank accounts were opened in UP under Jan Dhan Yojana. Eighteen lakh houses were built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana,” he said.

Modi said his government was working on bringing out a National Health Protection Scheme soon.

“We are bringing about a health insurance scheme for the poor. Some people are calling it Modicare. Schemes like life insurance and accident insurance will be available at Re 1 a month and 90 paise per day,” he said.

“With such schemes, we are ending the divide between the rich and the poor,” he added.

“The Mirzapur Medical College will also serve people in Sonbhadra, Badoli, Chandoli and Allahabad. The district hospital here will have 500 beds now,” he said.

Recalling his visit to Varanasi with French President Emmanuel Macron, Modi said: “When I went there in March to inaugurate a solar plant, the French president was with me. We were welcomed with a photo of ‘Mata’ and ‘chunari’. President Macron was very happy and when I told him about Mata’s eminence, he was inspired.”

Modi said since Yogi Adityanath took over as Uttar Pradesh chief minister, one could see the fast pace at which Purvanchal and Uttar Pradesh had been progressing.

Addressing the rally, Yogi said the BJP was connecting people with bridges and roads.

“The previous government tried to divide the people. We are connecting people with bridges and roads. Many such projects have been launched by the Prime Minister today,” he said.

“Thirteen medical colleges were built in UP since Independence. PM Modi gave 13 medical colleges, including AIIMS and a cancer institute, in just four years. Congress ruled for 55 years but they couldn’t give AIIMS to UP,” Yogi said.

“The Bansagar project should have been completed a long time ago. Previous governments did not care about the needs of farmers but PM Modi has worked to fulfil their hopes,” he added.