Sambalpur: Prime Minister Narendra Modi insisted Tuesday that his government has taken measures to weed out middlemen from the system to ensure that the ‘entire funds flowing from the Centre percolates to the poor’. He also slammed the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government for protecting those involved in chit fund and mining scams.
Addressing a rally here Modi said that only a small amount would reach the poor during the UPA rule. “Only 15 paise of a rupee would reach the poor during the UPA tenure, the rest was swindled by unscrupulous elements,” Modi informed the not so large gathering.
Hitting out at the Congress, Modi said the grand old party, during its rule, was embroiled in multiple controversies and scams.
“People have seen a helpless and corrupt government in the past amid rampant corruption charges in the form of sugar scams, ration scams and urea scandal.This chowkidar (watchman) has taken concrete steps to ensure that the entire fund flowing from the Centre percolates to the people,” Modi asserted.
Criticising the BJD government over mining and chit fund scams, the Prime Minister said the Naveen Patnaik-led party is only worried about personal gains.
“How can they (BJD) think of common people when all they do is shelter those involved in chit fund and mining scams. It is the Modi government that amended decades-old mining law and ensured that a part of the fund from the resources extracted is utilised for the development of local infrastructure,” said Modi.
“The country was hit by corruption for years since Independence. It is the BJP government that put a brake on these corrupt practices,” the PM asserted.
Sharing his plans for the country, Modi said the BJP government, if re-elected to power at the Centre, will set up separate Fisheries and ‘Jal Shakti’ ministries.
“The Jal Shakti Ministry will end the water crisis in the country by ensuring that water from the rivers and the seas reach the poor and the needy. We will also launch schemes for the welfare of fishermen folk,” Modi added.
Polling for Sambalpur Lok Sabha seat, where the BJP has fielded Nitesh Ganga Deb, is scheduled to be held in the third phase, April 23.