For many leaders, youth is a means to power: Modi

Mocks at the prevailing energy scene in India by raising missing coal files issue

Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi today targeted Congress saying that for many leaders, youth is the means to attain power.

"For many leaders, youth is a means to power but for me, youth is for empowerment," Modi said without naming anyone after Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi recently stated that new UPA after the elections, will see a young government.

The BJP strongman was speaking at the convocation ceremony of Pandit Dindayal Petroleum University run by the Reliance Industries.

Sharing the stage with Reliance Industries Mukesh Ambani, British Petroleum Group CEO Bob Dudley, he listed out things his government did in energy sector and for youths comparing that with alleged inactions of UPA government.

He also mocked at the prevailing energy scene in the country by raising the issue of missing coal files. He said that it was extremely unfortunate that some states of India face power shortage.

"Over 20,000 MW power generation capacity is lying idle because there is no fuel. Why is there no fuel ?, because there is no coal. And why is there no coal? Files are lost," he said.

Alleging that the central government is not serious in developing skills among youths he said, "For entire India the skill development budget is Rs 800 crore, but for Gujarat we will spend Rs 1,000 crore for skill development.

"People are not getting jobs. What is the future of youth? You can imagine in whose hands we have given this country. In future we might not get space on footpaths also," Modi said.

However, Modi said that the situation can be changed if youth are empowered and integrated in the development process.

"By integrating youth power of the nation into our development journey, there is a potential to correct the wrongs of last sixty years in a short span of ten years," Modi said.

He advised students to keep the mantra of 'India First' in their thought and action in times ahead.