Bengaluru: With Karnataka going for the election in the next few months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi – offering a bounty on development projects valued at Rs 10,863 crores at Yadgiri in Kalaburagi districts- said "Bharatiya Janata party wants development of the country and doesn’t rely on vote bank politics".
Taking a dig at Congress without naming it, Modi said that the earlier governments had shirked off their responsibilities. "When it was time to invest in electricity, road and water infrastructure, the parties that were in power then gave preference to vote bank politics, they saw every project and programme with a prism of how to convert the votes of a particular community into a strong vote base for them. The biggest loss because of this had to be faced by the people of Karnataka and this region," he said.
Declaring Yadgiri and surrounding regions of north Karnataka as backward, the Prime Minister said, "Our government's priority is not vote bank; our priority is development". The trip also gains significance, as the ruling BJP prepares for assembly polls in the state, due by May, and has set a target of winning a minimum of 150 out of total of 224 seats.
After laying the foundation stone of a National Highway Development project - 65.5 km section of NH-150C - at Kodekal in Yadgiri district, the Prime Minister said, “The next 25 years are going to be 'Amrit Kaal' for every citizen and State, and we have to build a developed India in this period”.
Modi who was on his second visit in the state this month laid the foundation stone and inaugurated various developmental projects related to irrigation, and drinking water. The Prime Minister also launched the 'Hakku Patra' (land title deed) distribution drive for over 52,000 nomadic Lambani (Banjara) tribes in five districts in north Karnataka. Earlier on January 12, he was in Hubballi to inaugurate the National Youth Festival, during which he had held a massive roadshow.
"It's a big day for the people of Banjara (Lambani nomadic) community as over 50,000 people will get their own roof by way of Hakku Patra", the PM said at a public meeting at Malkhed in the district. Modi distributed five 'Hakku Patra' to five nomadic couples on the occasion. This Hakku Patra will secure the future of thousands of people living in the "Thandas" (Lambani habitats) in Kalaburagi, Bidar, Yadgiri, Raichur and Vijayapura districts, he noted.
"Those living in Thandas had to wage a long struggle for their rights and face many difficulties. They had to wait for a long time", Modi said. "But now the depressing atmosphere is changing. I want to assure the Banjara mothers that their son (Modi) is sitting in Delhi".
Aimed at providing safe and adequate drinking water through individual household tap connections to all households, Modi in Kodekal laid the foundation stone for Yadgiri multi-village drinking water supply scheme under Jal Jeevan Mission. Also, a water treatment plant of 117 MLD will be built under the scheme.
The project, which costs more than Rs 2,050 crore, will provide potable water to about 2.3 lakh households of more than 700 rural habitations and three towns of the Yadgiri district. During the program, the PM also inaugurated the Narayanpur Left Bank Canal Extension Renovation and Modernisation Project (NLBC ERM).
Speaking on the water security of the citizens of the country, the Prime Minister said, “Water security is necessary for the development of 21st-century India. India can be developed when there are good crops in the fields and industries expand too”.
Modi also harped on the necessity of a double-engine government when he said, “double benefit, double welfare and double fast-paced development, and Karnataka is the best example for this”.
Earlier the Prime Minister was received by several Karnataka along with Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai who posted, "A warm welcome to the country's proud Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi who is coming to the state to inaugurate the left bank work of Narayanpura reservoir in Yadgiri district and to launch other development programs along with distribution of rights to new revenue villages in Kalburgi district."
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers Bhagwanth Khuba, several Ministers from the state cabinet, legislators, and officials were also present at the event. (with Agency inputs)
