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Journalism of Courage
On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said previous governments had ignored villages as “they were not vote banks in themselves”.
Addressing a public event in Rewa, Modi said, “Earlier governments hesitated to spend money for villages as they were not a vote bank in themselves. That is why they were ignored… Many political parties were running their ‘shops’ by dividing village folks.”
In a dig at Congress-led governments, the PM claimed that the panchayati raj system “had existed for several hundred years before Independence”, but completely ignored after 1947. “Gandhi said that the soul of India resides in its villages… Congress ignored Gandhi’s words also,” Modi said.
Modi went on to say that the BJP-led government has increased the amount of grants to panchayats, and strengthened them. “To make India a developed nation, it is necessary to develop the villages and their socio-economic systems. It is also important to develop the panchayati raj system in rural India… Our government is constantly working to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system in the country,” he said.
“Whatever schemes the government has made to make life easier for rural India, our panchayats are implementing them on the ground with full dedication,” Modi said in his speech.
The Congress underlined that it was former PM Rajiv Gandhi who had granted constitutional status to panchayats through the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act of 1993.
“Today is an important day in our political history. 30 years ago the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act came into force. This amendment gives constitutional status to Panchayats, in which Rajiv Gandhi has made an important contribution,” Jairam Ramesh said at a press conference.
The official Congress Twitter handle also took note of the day and wrote, “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ji realised Gandhi ji’s dream of Gram Swaraj by starting National Panchayati Raj. This decentralised the power till it reached every person in the village. Rajiv Gandhi took a step towards empowerment by providing one-third reservation to women in Panchayati Raj.”
The tweet added: “Panchayati Raj is the foundation of our democracy, on this Panchayati Raj Day, take a pledge to strengthen the foundation of democracy.”
In a separate tweet, the Congress said, “The visionary thinking of Rajiv Gandhi ji strengthened the Panchayati Raj and brought the Ganga of development and rights to the rural areas.”
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “Best wishes to all the Mukhiyas, Panches and members of the local bodies on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day. Together we all have to strengthen Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of Gram Swaraj and this initiative of Rajiv Gandhi.”
In his speech, Modi said panchayats are being made “smart” in the digital era. “Technology is being used to formulate and implement policies.”
In his tweet marking National Panchayati Raj Day, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri wrote: “PM Narendra Modi Ji’s policies of inclusive development anchored in the philosophy of ‘Sarvodaya through Antyodaya’ keep India firmly committed to empowerment of the grassroot…”
Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Modi government firmly believes in the principle of ‘Sarvodaya through Antyodaya’ and added: “On this National Panchayati Raj Day, let’s celebrate the spirit of democracy that thrives in our Panchayati Raj institutions.”
