New Delhi, Feb 18: Underlining the key takeaways of his government at the Centre in his closing address at the BJP’s National Convention on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew a distinction between ‘Rajneeti’ and ‘Rashtra Neeti’.
In a stirring and address to his party office-bearers and charges on the concluding day of the national comvention, PM Modi said, “Hum Rajneeti ke liye nahi Rashtra Niti ke liye nikle hai (we are in power for nation building, not politics).”
Asserting that his government demonstrated courage and grit to accomplish tasks that had been pending for decades, PM Modi said the entire country has come to acknowledge that overseeing a ‘spotless’ 10-year term at the helm and lifting 25 crore people out of poverty was no ‘small task’.
“Everyone now knows that we freed the country from the scourge of mega scams and terror attacks. We worked sincerely to improve the lives of the poor and the middle class. People keep telling me ‘You have achieved so much and fulfilled all major promises. Why are you still working so hard?’ We demonstrated the courage of conviction and grit to accomplish tasks that had been pending for decades. The construction and opening of the grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya brought an end to a wait spanning centuries,” Prime Minister Modi said.
He added that he neither aspired for power nor put himself and his interests before the country’s.
“I am not seeking a third term (as PM) to enjoy power. I made a pledge to the nation and people and have to honour it. If I had thought about myself or my selfish interests, I would not have built houses for crores of homes for the poor. My only mission in life as the Pradhan Sevak to ensure a golden future for our poor children. Realising the dreams crores of women, poor, and the youth are what Modi lives for. To fulfil our resolution, we are working day and night in the spirit of service. What we have achieved in 10 years has strengthened our conviction to accomplish our larger goals. Our only goal right now is to work for the country and the people,” PM Modi said.
“We are working on mission mode to make India a developed country by 2047. It is where we wish to take our country by the time it steps into its 100th year of indeopendence. We have resolved to make India the third-largest global economy, and this is Modi’s guarantee,” he added.
Expending on the work done by the Centre for the welafre of the poor, women, youth, and farmers, PM Modi said, “Today, the BJP is deriving strength from our women, farmers and the aspirational youth to build a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India). Earlier people would say ruefully that the government changes hands at every election, the system remains the same. No one bothered to enquire after the welafre of lakhs of Vishwakarma families. We introduced a ‘PM Vishwakarma Yojana’ for them. No one thought about people living on streets and footpaths.We made the PM Swanidhi Yojana for them. Previous governments did not pay attention to the problems of women but we came out with an initiative like ‘Beti Bachao-beti Padhao’ that had a meaningful impact across the country.”
“We have got health check-ups done for 5 crore pregnant women under Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan. Before 2014, there was a lot of concern around women’s safety. We ensured the death penalty for crimes like rape (under new criminal laws). For ftast-track justice in such cases, special arrangements were made. I was the first Prime Minister to raise concerns around the lack of toilets and hygiene from the ramparts of the Red Fort. Women’s dignity and respect are paramount for us. I am proud that in the last 10 years, the BJP government has taken many steps to make the lives of women in the country easier,” he added.
He said his government has also given 10 crore LPG connections under the Centre’s flagship ‘Ujjwala Yojana’ while building 4 crore houses, of which 3 crore have been registered in the names of women.
“We ensured the supply of tap water to the sisters across 10 crore families for the first time. We also got toilets made for women across 12 crore families. We also took care of their hygiene by introducing Suvidha Sanitary Pads. We opened bank accounts of more than 25 crore women. We made one crore women Lakhpati Didis. We increased the maternity leave to 26 weeks. Recruitment of women in paramilitary forces, too, doubled under our government. This Republic Day, the Kartavya Path was witness to the country’s growing Nari Shakti (women power),” Prime Minister Modi said.
ANI
