Clean surroundings benefit poor, not the rich, says PM Narendra Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday defended his government's flagship initiatives and said India has made remarkable strides and “the world is realising it”.

Accusing the Congress of trying to derail Gujarat's development journey, he said the party made huge money in the name of vikas (development).

He attacked the Congress for saying that the Gujarat's development model has failed and the people were fooled to believe it worked.

Modi said Gujarat has two development engines: One in Gandhinagar and the other in Delhi.

The Swachh Bharat Mission and the Pragati Initiative, he said, have helped the ordinary citizens more than the rich in the country.

“Who is impacted most by unclean surroundings? Not the rich families but the poor. When we work on Swachh Bharat Mission it helps the poor,” Modi said at an election rally in Ahmedabad.

Referring to the Pragati Initiative of the government, the prime minister said that it helped accelerate the pace of development.

“We started a Pragati Initiative. Through technology, officers from all over India join and we discuss key policy issues. This has helped,” he said.

He also praised his government's work on the Sabarmati riverfront and said: “There were circuses held earlier, now see the riverfront. This is development.”

The Congress has accused the PM of promoting himself and self-aggrandizing instead of working for the poor and on the pressing issues of the country.

“UPA did everything possible to derail Gujarat's development journey. To put gas pipelines in Gujarat's villages, the UPA got worried and did everything to stop that. I had to go to the Supreme Court,” Modi.

“If India is making a mark on the world stage it is due to the 125 crore people of India,” he added.