Solapur (Maharashtra):Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government is inspired by Lord Ram's principles of governance and urged people to light Ram Jyoti on January 22 (Ayodhya consecration day). He said that it will be an inspiration to remove darkness and poverty from the lives of the poor people. The PM said that 'putting India on the list of top three global economies is a Modi guarantee' and he will fulfil it in his third term with people's blessing.
The PM was addressing a gathering in Maharashtra's Solapur after laying the foundation stone of 8 AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) projects worth around Rs 2,000 crore in the state.
On this occasion, PM Modi got emotional and fought back his tears while talking after dedicating 15,000 houses of Raynagar Housing Society in Solapur, whose beneficiaries comprise thousands of handloom workers, vendors, power loom workers, rag pickers, beedi workers and drivers. He also kickstarted the distribution of 1st and 2nd instalments to 10,000 beneficiaries of PM-SVANIDHI in Maharashtra during the programme.
In a choked voice, the prime minister said he wished he had had the opportunity to stay in such houses when he was young. Happiness comes when people's dreams come true. Their blessings are my biggest investment, he said. Urging people, who got the houses, to light Ram Jyoti on January 22, when the consecration of the Ayodhya Ram temple will be held, Modi said it will be an inspiration to eradicate poverty from their lives.
Hitting back at his critics, the PM said, "Modi's guarantee means guarantee puri hone ki guarantee. Lord Ram taught us to honour commitments made and we are fulfilling all goals we set for the welfare of the poor and their empowerment". With a few months to go before the Lok Sabha polls, this was the PM's second visit to the state within a week. PM Modi also dedicated more than 90,000 houses completed under PMAY-Urban in Maharashtra, which sends 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha.
"Lord Ram did the work that made his people happy. My government is dedicated to the welfare and empowerment of the poor. We launched schemes to mitigate their hardships", he said, adding that the role of middlemen has been completely eradicated in his government's welfare schemes. Modi said homes and toilets have been constructed in ten years as the lack of these amenities was insulting to the poor, especially women.
PM Modi further said that the government has constructed more than 10 crore toilets which is Modi's izzat ki guarantee' for women and provided more than four crore pucca houses so far. Welfare of the poor and dignity of labour has been his government's focus, the PM said. Making India Atmanirbhar' (self-reliant) is crucial for turning it into Viksit Bharat' (developed India), he said, appealing to people to dream big. Your dream is my pledge and this is Modi's guarantee, he said.