Taking a dig at the Congress for ‘holding back’ India during its long rule after Independence and hitting out at Rahul Gandhi who had asked him to list out the achievements made by the NDA Government during the last 48 months of its rule, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday at Puducherry retorted that his Government has made life easy for the common man and launched a number of development activities and programmes.
“Though nations that got Independence in 1947 like India have grown, the country still lagged behind and it warranted a serious thought on the lacunae vis-a-vis the functioning of the Government and political culture that were holding back the nation”, the Prime Minister said.
Also, Modi pointed out that one particular family ruled India for 48 years after the country became Independent in 1947. “For about 17 years, Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister. His daughter Indira Gandhi ruled the nation for 14 years and her son Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister for five years. During 2004 to 2014, this family ruled the country with a remote control,” said Modi without referring to Manmohan Singh by name.
You will have to think what you gained or lost during those 48 years of one family as compared to 48 months of our Government, he said.
“From Puducherry, I would like to give a message to the intellectuals of this country. Intellectuals can debate the difference between what was gained and lost during the Congress regimes and what the BJP-led NDA has achieved in 48 months,” he said. Modi congratulated Narayanasamy, the Congress Chief Minister of Puducherry for the unique honour awaiting him. “Once the results of the upcoming Assembly elections are announced, Congressmen all over the country would parade Narayanasamy as the lone-surviving Congress Chief Minister in the country,” said Modi.
The Prime Minister, without referring to Capt Amrinder Singh, the Congress Chief Minister of Punjab, has set tongues wagging in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu. Narendra Modi was in full form on Sunday as he listed the achievements of his Government made during the last 48 months. He said the Governments which ruled Puducherry from time to time failed to make use of the potential of the Union territory as a heritage centre, medical education hub and tourist spot. “Puducherry, once known for the beautiful textiles produced here has lost its lustre because of the incapability and indifference of the Governments. No election has been held to the local Government bodies which have resulted in the centralisation of power with the Chief Minister. The Government of the union territory is murdering democracy by refusing to swear in the three MlAs who were constitutionally appointed by the Union Government. Funds allocated to the Union territory are being wasted by the Government,” charged the Prime Minister.