Votebank politics kept Indian PMs away from Israel : CM
BOOK LAUNCH Yogi Adityanath highlights development projects of PM Modi
LUCKNOW : After Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrapped up his historic Israel visit, chief minister Yogi Adityanath said Indian prime ministers avoided visiting Israel for 70 years for the sake of vote-bank politics as they feared losing their vote bank.
The CM expressed these views at the launch of book ‘Marching with a billion: Analysing Narendra Modi’s Government at Midterm’ authored by Uday Mahurkar at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan on Friday. The 450-page book comprising eight chapters and published by Penguin mostly deals with four aspects of the Modi government- transparency, delivery of schemes, innovation and pride. It also mentions shortcomings of the government.
Addressing the gathering, the CM said, “No Indian prime minister visited Israel for 70 years and desisted from adopting Israeli technology due to vote bank politics.” Adityanath’s statement was greeted with a big round of applause by the audience.
“Before 2014, the governments were after cheap publicity. But after formation of the Modi government at the Centre, things have changed a lot,” said the CM.
The CM mentioned about PM Modi’s recently concluded successful US visit. On the occasion, the CM also mentioned schemes of the Modi government. He spoke about the PM’s pet project, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, how it has benefited villagers and the Jan Dhan Yojana among others. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken the governance to the gram sabha level and has made villages focal point of development,” said Adityanath.
“PM Modi has made farmers focal point of Indian politics,” he added. The CM also pointed out that more than 250 books have been published on PM Modi till date all over the world.
On the occasion, the CM also attacked his detractors.
Thanking publisher of the book, Penguin Random House India, on whose behalf its editorin-chief Milee Ashwarya was present, Adityanath said, “We often face allegations of saffronisation. In such times, you (publisher) have come forward to present facts about the government.” “Those who level such allegations forget that even Tricolour’s (national flag) first colour is saffron,” said the CM.
Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also expressed his views on the occasion while author of the book gave a detailed narrative of his creation.