PM Modi lashes out at Congress for not developing Puducherry

Puducherry, February 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lashed out at the Congress party and said, "Our first Prime Minister was there for nearly 17 years, third Prime Minister for about 14 years and his son also became the Prime Minister for five years. The same family also ran the government for a long time with remote control. If the sum total is calculated, then this family has been ruling this country for almost 48 years!"

Adding further, he said, "Several countries which got independence post India got freedom in 1947, are ahead of us when it comes to development. We must discuss why we were not able to develop at the pace they progressed."

The Prime Minister remarked that Puducherry had all the resources and its people had the potential to touch new heights of development. "But why is it that Puducherry lags behind when it comes to comparing the region on development parameters with their regions of the country? Why are the youth and women not getting opportunities to flourish?", he asked.

PM Modi spoke about various initiatives of the Centre like Mudra Yojana, Jan Dhan Yojana and Digital Saksharta Scheme which were strengthening and empowering people not only in Puducherry alone but across length and breadth of the country.

Mentioning about the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the PM said that it would benefit poor the most. He said that Government would cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families providing coverage up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year.

The PM noted that through Sagarmala project, the Governemnt was strengthening the ports and ushering in an era of port-led development. He added that under the Blue Revolution scheme, the Government was providing financial assistance for long-liner trawlers which would benefit fishermen in the coastal areas.

Modi said that he was delighted to have got the opportunity to visit the place after a long time. He said that the land of Puducherry had always provided strength to the country culturally and spiritually.

He recalled several greats like Maharshi Aurobindo, renowned poet Bharati and freedom fighter Vanchinathan. He also mentioned how the region even continued to publish newspapers which were opposed by the British in the entire country.