‘Gave scam-free rule in past 10 years’: PM Modi jabs Congress during key BJP meet

New Delhi,Feb 18 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took on the Congress over corruption during their tenure and said his government had ruled the country for the past 10 years free from “mega scams”.

Delivering his remarks to the BJP leaders during the second day of the party’s National Convention 2024 in the national capital’s Bharat Mandapam, PM Modi said the Opposition leaders were also raising slogans of ‘NDA sarkar, 400 paar’ (this time, 400 seats for NDA).

In a dig at the Congress, the Prime Minister said, “The entire country believes that we have freed the country from the fear of mega scams and terrorist attacks. We have tried to improve the lives of the poor and middle class.”

PM Modi asserted that the next five years would be “important” as a giant leap has to be taken towards making a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India).

“Now the country’s dream and resolve will be bigger. Our dream and resolution is that we have to make a ‘Viksit Bharat’ and the next five years will play an important role in it,” he said.

He said the initiatives taken in the past 10 years were only a step towards the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047.

“We showed the courage to finish the works that had been pending for decades. For instance, by building the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, we ended the wait of five centuries. Be it the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, the abrogation of Article 370, or the implementation of the New Education Policy, these changes were long-awaited by the people of India. Nations shape their futures by embracing their history and culture,” PM Modi said.

He asserted that the Opposition makes many false claims but is wary of making one promise, which is to make India develop, which only the BJP can do.

“I am not asking for the third term to enjoy power. If I had thought about my house, I would not have built houses for crores of poor people. I am living for the future of poor children. The dreams of crores of women, poor and youth are PM Modi’s resolve,” he said.

PM Modi said India’s relationship with West Asia was at its strongest and accused the Congress of ignoring the Middle East and seeing the region “through the prism of Pakistan”.

“I have received invites from foreign countries to visit them in July, August and September. They also know ‘aayega to Modi hi’ (Modi will win, anyway),” he added.

He asserted he was the first Prime Minister who raised the issue of toilets during his Independence Day address from the ramparts of the Red Fort and expressed anguish at the use of derogatory words for women.

He said the feeling of ‘Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat’ was very close to the BJP’s hearts and the idea is visible in its governance.

Accusing the Congress of ignoring the Northeast, PM Modi said, “We focus on the development of every region. For instance, the Northeast. The previous governments ignored the Northeast because there are only a few parliamentary seats there. However, we don’t work for votes or seats.”

He said India was planning to host the Youth Olympics and Olympics in India in 2029 and 2036, respectively. He also said the Railways has also set the target to become a net-zero carbon emitter by 2030.

He said the BJP’s goal for the next 100 days was to unite and engage with every voter.

“It is essential to earn the trust of the people, and with collective efforts, the BJP will have the opportunity to serve the nation with the highest mandate ever,” he said.

PM Modi said, “People keep telling me you have achieved so much. You have fulfilled all major promises, then why are you still working so much? The entire country believes that having a spotless 10-year term and taking 25 crore people out of the poverty line is not a simple task.”

“Hum Rajneeti ke liye nahi Rashtra Niti ke liye nikle hai, (we don’t work for politics, we work to serve the nation),” he further said.

-PTI