Projects were delayed due to votebank politics, says PM, inaugurates UT’s first medical college

Sharing the stage with the PM and Praful Khoda Patel, the administrator of the Union territories Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu as well as Lakshadweep, was Shiv Sena MP Kalaben Delkar. She had won the Dadra and Nagar Haveli seat in an election necessitated by the death of her husband and Independent MP Mohan Delkar. Delkar is suspected to have died by suicide in a Mumbai hotel in 2021. Based on her son Abhinav’s complaint, Praful Khoda Patel and others were booked for abetting Delkar’s suicide, which was quashed by the Bombay High Court last September.

Addressing a gathering, Modi said, “It was unfortunate that earlier, development was measured in the scales of vote bank politics. Many projects would be announced, but keeping in mind where and how many votes would be gained in return, and which section of society should be pleased. Those whose voices were weak, remained denied and were left behind in the path of development.”

He added that earlier, “only a few would get a chance to study medicine”. “They thought they would gain nothing by developing this tiny Union Territory and they never valued your blessings,” the PM told the gathering.

“I was the chief minister of Gujarat during those times, I have witnessed the injustice done to these areas… Not one medical college was set up at Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu since Independence. Tribal children from these areas were left behind and those who wanted to become doctors had to go to far-flung areas to pursue medical courses. Those who had ruled the country for decades had never thought of the people of these areas,” Modi said.

He added, “Aaj desh me tushtikaran par nahi santushti karan par bal diya ja raha hein (Today, we are focussing on satisfying people and not appeasing them)… When there is a saturation of schemes, the government goes to the door of each individual, putting an end to discrimination, corruption and nepotism. I can proudly say that Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu has reached near the saturation level of central government schemes.”