PM Narendra Modi hits out at Congress for sheer negligence of Dadra and Nagar Haveli

Silvassa: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today alleged that past Congress Governments at center had completely ignored union territories like Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.

He also said that his was first visit of any prime minister to Silvassa, the headquarter of the UT, after around 35 to 40 years. Earlier prior to 1980 the then Prime Minster Morarji Desai had visited here.

On the occasion of distribution of benefits of various central schemes and inauguration and some projects, Modi addressing a meeting in Lions School here said that he was happy to see such a large crowd in his meeting at a small place which is one of the smallest Loksabha segment in the country which was larger than rallies in man big states.

‘But the people of this union territory earlier did not know which government ruled them. Ignored by the earlier governments, they thought that the collector was their government. I have been told that mine is the visit of a prime minister of this territory after 35 to 40 years. Before me the then PM Morarjbhai Desai had visited this place before 1980. It means that the residents of this place who have are up to the age of 35 don’t even know whether this place was eligible for a PM’s visit,’ he said.

Modi said that in his government and after appointment of Prafulbhai Patel as the administrator the people now feel that they have as much say in the government as that of the people of Delhi.

He said that though it was his first visit to the UT as PM yet as a normal BJP worker he had visited every panchayat of it and many of those sitting here knows that I have even dined with them and moved around on scooter. He was completely acquainted with the problems of this UT which was like a small India.

Congress which had its government at center at that time used to spread lies about the performance of my government and instigate tribal people in Gujarat. But when I took rein at Delhi I was astonished to see that the then government had not distributed even a single land lease to tribal people here who are in substantial number. It was despite the fact that under the scheme there was no say of any state government and the officials of central government were to do the job. Gujarat and MP had topped in that scheme. ‘Those who used to put us in the dock had not given even a single lease,’ he said.

‘In earlier days the officials here used to live a royal life. They bothered for just the MP here. But now the scene has changed as it is not a Congress government but it is a Modi Government and the official will have to move for people. It is the result of this that 2325 tribal families today have got the leaser papers of the lands which they tilled for generations but did not have a right on it. It is the biggest event in the UT post independence. I thank the administrator and his team for this which has given immense pleasure,’ the PM said.

He said that his government would provide houses with various amenities to around 7000 BPL families of Dadra and Nagar Haveli including 6234 from rural areas by 2022 when the country would celebrate the completion of 75 years of independence. He said that while in the past the Congress had made the mere increase in number of gas cylinders from 9 to 12 a poll plank in 2014, his government has so far in last 11 months distributed 2 crore free connections to poor families. He also distributed such connections with a gas stove, lighter and cooker to around 8 thousand beneficiaries of Ujjwala scheme on the occasion.

He said that he had seen his own mother cooking by burning wood the smoke caused by which was as dangerous as smoking 400 cigarettes. He also distributed various assisting equipment to divyangs. He also urged people to not to give any ear to the rumours about the generic drugs being of lesser efficacy.
‘My government has decreased the price of 800 odd medicines and started generic stores. We should not believe the rumours about generic drugs and allow the loot the poor,’ he said.

About the scheme of setting up of wi-fi zone he said that on the announcement the joy shown by youths here was the sample of the new India. He urged the youths to download and promote BHIM app to make it a way of extra earning during vacations as well as checking corruption through less-cash system.

DeshGujarat