People blow poll bugle for Modi; he just sits at their feet and serves them, PM says in Bulandshahr

Modi added, “On January 22, in Ayodhya Dham, I had darshan of Prabhu Shri Ram, and here I am lucky to get darshan of janata janaradan (common people). West UP got projects worth more than Rs 19,000 crore today—railway line, highway, petroleum pipeline, water, sewage, etc.”

He then recalled Kalyan Singh, an OBC leader of the BJP. “This region has given the country an illustrious son in Kalyan Singh-ji, who did both Ram Kaaj and Rashtra Kaaj (service of Ram and to the nation) all his life. He must be happy looking at Ayodhya Dham wherever he is today. The country has fulfilled his dream and that of others,” he said. “Yet, we have to increase our pace (of work) to fulfil his dream of a strong nation and true social justice. Pran pratishtha has happened, now rashtra pratishtha (glory of the nation) is required. We have to move from dev (God) to desh (country) and from Ram to rashtra (nation). By 2047, we have to make India a developed country.”

The late Singh was Uttar Pradesh chief minister when the Babri Masjid was demolished in 1992.

The prime minister accused early governments after independence of ignoring Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state. “After Independence, for a long time development was limited to select areas. A large part of the country was deprived of it. UP was not focused on, despite having the largest population. This happened because those who ran governments in those times behaved like rulers, trying to divide people and keeping people deprived to stay in power. Generations in UP have suffered because of this. And the country also suffered. If the biggest state was weak, how could the country be strong? Will we not have to empower UP to make India powerful? I am an MP from UP; I have the responsibility,” he said.

“Many highways are coming up in UP. The first Namo Bharat train project has begun in west UP. Metro services are coming up in many cities of UP. When Jewar international airport is ready, this region will grow new wings. West UP is now becoming a major centre for employment generation. One industrial smart city has come up in Greater Noida of west UP. It is ready for investors from across the country. This will also benefit small enterprises in west UP. Our farmers and workers will also benefit,” he said. “UP is far away from the sea. So gas and petroleum products needed for industry used to be brought here by road. New airports and a dedicated freight corridor will solve this problem.”

One part of western UP being a sugarcane belt, Modi congratulated Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for increasing the state advised price for sugarcane. He added that his government had ensured that money was transferred straight into farmers’ accounts for their produce they sold in the mandi. The PM also said the government had placed Rs 2.75 lakh crore in the accounts of farmers and started the world’s largest scheme to develop cold storages across the country for farm produce to be stored.

“Our government is encouraging ethanol production so that sugarcane farmers earn more money. We are ensuring cheap fertilisers for farmers. One urea bag costs less than Rs 300 here; (elsewhere) in the world it costs Rs 3,000. Now nano-urea has been made. One bottle has the power of one sack of fertiliser,” the PM said.

Modi also listed out some other of his welfare schemes, like those related to the construction of toilets, free rations (5 kg for 80 crore people), free treatment and the provision of tapped water in “crores of homes”.

“Today, the country considers Modi’s guarantee as a guarantee that every guarantee will be fulfilled. Modi is guaranteeing saturation of schemes so that they reach each labharthi (beneficiary) in the country. Modi is guaranteeing 100 per cent reach. When the government reaches 100 per cent beneficiaries, there is no scope for discrimination or corruption. This is true secularism and true social justice. Whatever the section of society, the needs of all the needy are alike. So, Modi wants to reach everyone who is in need with high speed,” he added.

Modi said that “empty slogans” of Gharibi Hatao were once used—hinting at former prime minister Indira Gandhi—and added that some even enriched their own families by telling lies in the name of social justice, alluding to parties like the SP and the RJD.

“The common poor, Dalit and backward person was scared of criminals and riots. Now things have changed. Modi is honestly committed to service. About 25 crore people have come out of poverty and others look forward to the same prospect. For me, you are my family. Your dreams are my resolution. When common families will be empowered, that will be Modi’s poonji (capital).”

Earlier, Adityanath said the PM came to Bulandshahr by road despite adverse weather. He thanked Modi for conferring the Bharat Ratna on the late social justice icon Karpoori Thakur.