Previous governments ruled country like a sultanate: Narendra Modi

BALANGIR: In the state to attend a rally for the third time within a month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday once again directed his attack towards the previous Congress governments at the Centre while going relatively soft on Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik.
Speaking at a BJP rally at Patharchepa village on the outskirts of the district headquarters town of Balangir, Modi said governments in the past ruled the country like a sultanate and did not value the country’s rich cultural heritage.
“Isn’t India the world’s cultural leader or not? Wasn’t our civilization most developed or not? Shouldn’t we be working to restore that glory?” Modi asked the crowd to a thunderous applause.
“The assets of which the world was envious of was destroyed by foreign invaders. But they (past governments) did not bother for their renovation and preservation, they did not show the seriousness they should have. They governed the country like a sultanate. They are still desperate to establish their sultanate,” he said.
“The government is committed towards improving India’s identity,” the Prime Minister added. Modi, who inaugurated a slew of development projects worth over Rs 1500 crore, was on his third visit to the state after Khurda (December 24) and Baripada (January 5).
Modi said the Centre is committed towards restoring the historic places of faith to their past glory. “Odisha is an important part of our heritage. Our government has taken up beautification and renovation of all such temples which had been left to their fates,” he added. Stating that priceless antiques and ancient idols were stolen and moved out of the country in the past, Modi said his government took concrete steps to bring them back, because of its love, respect and commitment to culture. “In the past four years, many idols have been brought back,” he said.
Referring to efforts by opposition leaders to forge a grand alliance, the Prime Minister said, “There is a conspiracy to remove Modi. They are uniting to get Modi out. But I swear in the land of Lord Jagannath, I will ensure those looting money from poor, this chowkidaar will stop them. The chowkidaar will ensure they are punished.”
He also said his government has stopped pilferage in the public distribution system by eliminating 6 crore, more than the population of Odisha, fake beneficiaries. “Those affected are now ganging up against me,” he said.
Speaking about his government’s focus on Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Modi said, “Hamari sarkaar vikas ki panch dhara par kaam kar rahi hai. bachchon ko padhai, yuva ko kamaai, buzurgon ko dawaai, kisaan ko sinchaai aur jan-jan ki sunwaai (our government is working on five areas of development — education for children, earnings for youth, medicinies for elders, irrigation projects for farmers and listening to people).”
When it came to the Naveen government policies, Modi termed it a ‘soi hui sarkar’ (government in slumber) and said it should be not be waiting for elections before spending on tribal welfare. Pointing out that after the Centre amended the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act in 2016, Odisha has got more than Rs 4,000 crore, Modi said, “This money is for the people, for tribals, development of the area where mining is done. But the government here has spent very less. The money is lying unspent.”
He also raised the issue of his government’s recent decision to offer 10% quota to economically weaker sections among general category. “For the first time since independence, the government took an new initiative by amending the Constitution, but without tampering constitutional rights of OBC, SC and ST,” Modi said.
Earlier, Modi inaugurated the Balangir-Bichhupali railway line and the railway station at Bichhupali. He also launched the renovation and restoration works at Nilamadhav and Siddheswar Temple in Gandhaharadi (Boudh), Ranipur Jharial group of monuments in Balangir and the Paschim Somnath group of temples in Boudh. The Odisha chief minister skipped the event as he was attending a farmers’ convention in Bhubaneswar.