A day after attending informal summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tamilnadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was actively campaigning in Maharashtra on Sunday for Assembly elections. He said though the world was faced with a “challenging time” India is stronger to deal with the same. He also said the rural economy was not paid attention to earlier unlike his government has done and added that Rs 25 lakh crore will be spent on the development of infrastructure in villages. Addressing a poll rally at Sakoli in Bhandara district of Maharashtra, Modi said in earlier days schemes were worked out on caste and community considerations. “However, for my government, only people matter,” he said, adding that farmers, the poor and deprived sections are the focus of his schemes.
The Prime Minister said his government was working with a new energy towards creating the identity of a “New India”, thanks to the huge mandate his party and allies received during the Lok Sabha polls held earlier this year. “We are working new energy for creating new identity of New India. The world is faced with a challenging time now. But India is stronger now to deal with the challenge. This is because of the trust you have reposed. This trust is inspiring us to take big decisions. Such decisions people earlier were scared of taking,” Modi said. In the run-up to elections, the ruling BJP has been fighting the Opposition’s allegations of “failure” to revive the “sagging economy”. In an apparent jibe at the Congress, which had mostly ruled Maharashtra since its formation in 1960, Modi said ‘divisive politics’ has now become history in the State.
He said people had shown a “trailer” in the 2014 Assembly poll by reposing faith in the BJP-led “Mahayuti”, and exuded confidence that they will show the “entire film” in the forthcoming State elections, scheduled on 21 October. “Earlier, attention was not paid to the rural economy like it is now…in the coming years, Rs 25 lakh crore will be spent on developing infrastructure in villages,” Modi said. He said roads are being developed in rural areas and godowns will be created to store grains of farmers. “Works are being carried out on a broad vision on both irrigation and income. We have tried to change the situation and have taken steps to solve the problems of farmers permanently,” the Prime Minister said. Stating that pension plan for small farmers has now been realised, Modi said his government was also focusing on providing direct benefit to farmers. While the government has been implementing various schemes for multiple sectors, let us hope “Mission New India” will be achieved soon and economic challenges will be addressed with utmost importance.