I am PM because of Ambedkar: Modi
JANGLA (BIJAPUR): Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed BR Ambedkar for drawing up a Constitution that protected the rights of backward classes and attributed his political success to the Dalit icon, whose 127th birth anniversary was celebrated on Saturday.
Addressing a public meeting in Jangla in Chhattisgarh’s Maoisthit Bijapur district, he requested the youth to shun violence and not join Maoist ranks for securing their rights.
“Baba Sahib has given us the Constitution. He ensured protection of your rights... It is the duty of the government to take care of your rights. You need not pick up weapons... ruin your lives,” he told the gathering. The awakening among poor and backward sections about their rights and aspirations was due to Ambedkar. “Son of a poor mother like me hails from a very backward section of society and could become the Prime Minister due to Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he said.
The comments come at a time when the Opposition is trying to corner the Modi government over a Supreme Court order barring automatic arrests under a law meant to protect scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.
The government has sought a review and is also looking at an ordinance in case of an unfavourable outcome.
“It is because of Ambedkar that today Dalits have the realisation of their rights and aspirations to live a dignified life and the government is working to fulfil their wishes and aspirations.” he said. Modi urged parents not to “hand over” their children to Maoist leaders who, he said, kept themselves safe but let the locals die. “I want to say to the parents of these kids who have chosen the path of violence that not a single leader among them (Maoists ) are born in your area or native to your area and they never die… Why have you given them the right to kill your kids?” he said.
Modi also launched the first phase of Ayushman Bharat, inaugurating a health centre as part of his government’s ambitious healthcare scheme.
The government would open 150,000 health and wellness centre by 2022, which would be equipped to treat a host of ailments, including diabetes, cancer and age-related illnesses. Of these, 15,000 sub-centres or wellness centres would be ready in 2018-19 and headed by a trained healthcare provider, he said.
Announced in this year’s budget, Ayushman Bharat has two major components — comprehensive primary healthcare and the national health insurance scheme, which offers insurance cover of ₹5 lakh to every vulnerable family.