In a rare remark, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday complimented the Jharkhand Government for reducing Naxalites violence in the State while in his turn Chief Minister Hemant Soren lauded the PM for his flagship schemes for uplift of tribals in Jharkhand.
Both were speaking at a massive Central Government programme at Khunti near Ranchi after paying tributes to the tribal warrior, Birsa Munda and the occasion also happens to be the foundation day of Jharkhand.
While Modi had words of appreciation for the JMM leader who is part of the INDIA alliance, he continued with his barb against the major Opposition Congress which incidentally is also an alliance partner of the Soren-led coalition Government.
The visit holds political significance too as the BJP aims to woo tribal voters in Jharkhand ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and Assembly elections in other states having sizeable tribal population. Besides Soren, Governor CP Radhakrishnan and Union Ministers Arjun Munda and Annapurna Devi were present on the occasion.
Modi visited the birth place of Birsa Munda at Ulihatu village and launched `7,2000 crore development plans for road, rail infrastructure, education, coal, petroleum and gas in Jharkhand. Renovation plans for the IIM at Ranchi and Indian School of Mines at Dhanbad were also launched.
Modi complimented Soren for 100 electrification of villages in the State.
Later, speaking at a function Soren thanked the PM for inaugurating several new schemes for the State.
“I have come to the land of Birsa Munda to repay the debt that I owe to the deprived,” the PM said while addressing a public rally at Khunti Football Ground in Jharkhand after paying homage to the tribal icon at his birthplace Ulihatu.
Modi said the poor had lost all hope due to the careless approach of previous Governments.
The PM expressed gratitude towards President Droupadi Murmu for her steadfast commitment to the development of tribal communities.
The PM launched a new scheme to protect the 25 primitive tribes across the country and provide their villages with telecommunications, road connectivity, LPG facility, pucca houses.
He said he had made power for the poor and middle class my priority. Modi attacked the Opposition who accused the BJP of appeasement to minorities. “True secularism comes only when all practices of discrimination against any citizen are eliminated.”
Modi promised ration cards for free ration, gas, education to every poor. “Every village should get tapped water connectivity, free health services,” he said. The PM flagged off the Vikasit Bharat Sankalp Yatra and `24,000 crores JANMAN (Janjati Adivasi Nyayay Maha Abhiyan) and released the 15th instalment of about `18,000 crores PM KIsan Samman Yojana.
Modi promised to work on a ‘mission mode’ to deliver justice to deprived tribals and said he will repay the debt he owed to them while launching `24,000-crore project for vulnerable tribal groups on the birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda.
Jharkhand Congress, however, criticised Modi for allegedly doing politics in the name of paying tribute to tribal icon Birsa Munda.
