Governance Isn’t About Winning Votes, Nation First, Says PM Narendra Modi In Varanasi: 10 Points

VARANASI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, today said that by 2022, “every poor, whether in urban or rural area, will get a home”. Stressing that his government’s prime agenda is development, he said, “Governance is not about politics or winning elections. The priority is the well-being of the nation.” He was addressing a rally in Varanasi’s Shahanshahpur after inaugurating the Pashudhan Arogya Mela, a mega animal fair and laying the foundation stone for toilet units under his pet project, Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan.

Some politicians work only when it fetches them votes, PM Modi said. “But we have been brought up in a different culture. For us, the nation is above all and it is our top-most priority, not votes.”
While praising the Uttar Pradesh government and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his development efforts in the state since taking charge in March, PM Modi said, “I want to congratulate the chief minister for organising the Pashudhan Arogya Mela. This fair will benefit the farmers across the state.”
“Doubling of farmers’ income is an area in which significant work is being done,” he said and added, “Let us build on the strides we have made in the dairy sector. Cooperatives can help in this regard, as they have in parts of the nation.”
Going forward with his “Clean India” message, PM Modi said he is happy to have got the “opportunity to help in construction of toilets for the poor” and said, “Swachhata is puja for me. Cleanliness is a way to serve the poor of India.” He also encouraged all to keep their surroundings clean.
He distributed Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana certificates among beneficiaries and said everybody — the urban and rural poor — will have a shelter by 2022 when the country celebrates 75th year of independence. “It will generate jobs for thousands and open up new avenues of income and employment,” he said.
PM Modi yesterday launched several infrastructure projects, flagged off the Mahamana Express between Varanasi and Vadodara and released a postage stamp on different aspects of Lord Ram’s life at the historic Tulsi Manas Mandir.
As he dedicated schemes worth Rs. 1,000 crore to his Lok Sabha constituency, he remarked that “unlike previous governments who were driven by political calculations, this government not only launches but completes its projects”.
While addressing a public meeting on Friday, PM Modi said, “Development is solution to all our problems.They (previous governments) seemed to hate development and the national exchequer was “destroyed” to win elections.”
PM Modi spoke about his dream to wipe out poverty in the country and his government’s efforts to empower the poor by offering them opportunities to change their lives. “No poor person wants to give their children their poverty in inheritance,” he said.
During the inauguration of the 300-crore Deendayal Hastkala Sankul, a trade facilitation centre for handicrafts and crafts museum, he spoke about the importance of showcasing the weavers’ works at global platforms to enhance their economic prospects. “Our weavers need a global market which will enhance their economic prospects significantly,” he said.