Modi takes swipe at 'gareebi hatao' slogan

Attacking Congress' "gareebi hatao" slogan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said though intention of those who gave the slogan may have been good, the path they chose for delivering the promise was wrong.
Addressing a rally in this coastal Odisha town on completion of two years of his government, he called for a 'balanced' development in the country and wondered why the eastern belt had remained backward despite being generously bestowed with natural resources.
Pitching for development of Odisha, eastern Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar and Assam, Modi said his government was committed to the welfare of the poor people who would be at the centre of all schemes.

Questioning former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's 'gareebi hatai' slogan, he said, "We have for the last 60 years heard the slogan of 'gareebi hatao'. I do not doubt the intention of those who gave this slogan. The intention may have been good but the path they chose to eradicate poverty was certainly wrong because poverty, umemployment and disease grew."
He said governments are not for the rich, but the poor and they should work towards fighting poverty. Till the time scientific solutions to the problems are found, poverty will not be eradicated, he said.
"I had said that my government is dedicated to the welfare of poor people in the country. When I said this, my purpose was that no state or area should be left behind in development. There should be a balanced development and everyone should benefit from it...

The Prime Minister said there were countries where the

Indian community was more powerful than the Indian missions and could help removing the "fear of unknown" amongst the people there towards India.
While much was spoken about brain drain, if the strength of the Indian diaspora was channelised, "we can convert it into 'brain gain'," he said.
Like dams channelise the energy of water to make electricity, a source is required to utilise the energy of the 2.45 crore strong Indian diaspora to "light up India", Modi said.
He also commended the role of the Ministry of External Affairs in helping people of Nepal in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and pulling out Indians and other nationals from hotspots like Yemen.

Modi said the MEA has made a place for itself and the world now accepts India as a major contributor in extending humanitarian aid.
Other countries, he said, now seek Indian help in pulling out their citizens from trouble spots. "Since India will definitely be evacuating its citizens, please help us pull out our people as well," he quoted calls of helps from various nations as saying.
Modi also released a booklet carrying a series of protocols to be followed to get rid of diabetics through yoga.
Speaking on the occasion, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said the Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra was not just an ordinary building but a memorial of the forefathers who had left India in search of work.

In times when people do not have a long memory, Modi
said, people still remember the BJP governments 14 years ago headed by Kalyan Singh, Ram Prakash and Rajnath Singh.
"The issue is not of BJP's exile... The issue is that development had been exiled in the state for 14 years and today I am seeing an opportunity here for development of the state which was necessary for the development of the country," he said.
Seeking full majority in the coming elections, Modi said, "I have to tell people that they should not bring a change which is half-baked and ensure a government with full majority so that there is no impediment in development."

Questioning the law and order situation in the state, Modi said honest citizens have to worry about criminals, land grabbers and safety of their daughters and sisters.
"BJP governments have shown before and if given a chance my party promises to provide a peaceful life and rule of law in the state," he stressed.
These elections could be an issue of who becomes CM or MLA for other parties, but for BJP the coming elections are not about winning or losing, Modi said.
"I want to tell BJP workers that the UP elections are not an issue of victory or defeat but an election which will assign you responsibility for which we have to become capable and move ahead.

"We are going to get this big responsibility," Modi said adding parytmen will have to move ahead with the motto of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas'.