BARGARH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said, there is a conspiracy to defame and destabilise his Government as he sought accountability from NGOs and sealed all avenues of black-marketing.
Addressing a Kissan Sammelani here, the Prime Minister said his Government will not bow to such forces whatever the pressure is. “Some people simply could not digest the fact that a ‘chaiwala’ has become Prime Minister of the country. This has brought all the NGOs together and they want to destabilise the Government and defame me,” he said.
The Prime Minister said NGOs receive money from foreign countries and all that his Government did was to seek the expenditure accounts. The country needs to know where the money comes from and where it is being spent because the law mandates it. “We said, let the funds come but give account of the funds received. The moment we asked for the accounts, they joined forces and said ‘Modi ko Maaro’, ‘Modi ko Maaro’ as he is seeking accounts from us,” he said.
Modi said, when he assumed office, all the States were cribbing about scarcity of urea. The fertilizer was being black-marketed by unscrupulous traders and used by chemical industries. To prevent this, neem coated urea was introduced which is now available in plenty. This, Modi said, upset the applecart of unscrupulous elements.
“You have elected me to cure the country of this malaise and I am doing this. Whatever they may say against me, I am not going to deviate from the responsibility entrusted to me. I will not stop, get tired and there is no question of bowing to it,” he told a huge gathering of farmers at Bhatli Square, about two km from the town.
Modi said he knows what is annoying his detractors but will not allow the country to be looted despite the fact that he is facing attack all the time.
Talking about the agriculture sector and the measures undertaken by the NDA Government, Modi said farmers can change their fate for themselves with the slew of welfare schemes launched by the Centre.
BJP Hands in Glove with BJD: Cong
Bhubaneswar: The Congress on Sunday alleged that the farmers’ rally at Bargarh has again brought to the fore the secret understanding between the BJP and BJD. Even though more than 150 farmers committed suicide in Odisha for crop loss, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent on the BJD Government in the State, AICC general secretary in-charge Odisha BK Hariprasad told mediapersons here.
Thrilled at the huge turnout, the Prime Minister said, Odisha no more harbours the laid back attitude of “Jo Chalta Hai, Chalne Do”. The youths are prepared for a change for better and there is a visible change in the mindset.
Modi said, India can be prosperous when the regional disparity between western and eastern states is addressed and called for strengthening the farm sector.
Improved irrigation, crop diversification, horticulture and use of new farming technology can improve the sector and the target should be to double the income of farmers by 2022, the 75th year of Independence, he said.
The Prime Minister said, Odisha can take a cue from Madhya Pradesh which was nowhere in the agricultural scenario of the country but has made rapid strides in recent times.
The second Green Revolution could be led by Odisha which is endowed with natural resources like water.
Modi also highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Soil Health Card and cultivation of pulses on crop rotation for nitrogen fixation.
Dwelling on Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, he urged the farmers to get covered under insurance scheme so that even the minimal loss is reduced and assured that his Government would stand by them.
The new crop insurance policy has been hailed by all State Governments and has no critics and is a panacea for all the problems of farmers, he added. Stating that people often wonder about Start Up and Stand Up India in farm sector, he said the youths can take it up both in farm sector and rural India.
State BJP in-charge Arun Singh, Union Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram, Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, State BJP president Basant Panda, senior leaders KV Singhdeo and Bijay Mohapatra were present.
BJD to Raise SCS Status
Bhubaneswar: Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not announce any financial package for Odisha at his farmers’ rally in Bargarh on Sunday, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) decided to raise its demand for Special Category State (SCS) status during the budget session of Parliament which begins from February 23. The decision was taken at the BJD parliamentary party meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Other issues in the agenda of the BJD include release of assistance for the last year’s drought and cyclone Phailin of 2013.
Bhubaneswar: Even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not announce any financial package for Odisha at his farmers’ rally in Bargarh on Sunday, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) decided to raise its demand for Special Category State (SCS) status during the budget session of Parliament which begins from February 23. The decision was taken at the BJD parliamentary party meeting presided by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Other issues in the agenda of the BJD include release of assistance for the last year’s drought and cyclone Phailin of 2013.