Not afraid to stand alongside industrialists, says Modi
Prime Minister tells political rivals; says support of every section is important to take the country forward
LUCKNOW: Using the groundbreaking ceremony here to respond to political criticism for being “industry friendly”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked rivals not to insult industrialists, “who played an important role in the country’s development.”
Modi was speaking at the launch of projects worth ₹60,000 crore at the ground breaking ceremony here on Sunday.
Coming down heavily on political rivals, Modi said: “Hum unko apmaanit karenge, chor lootere kahenge... yeh kaun sa tareeka hai? Par jo galat karega usey ya toh desh chhor kar bhagna padega ya jailon main zindagi guzarni padegi (Should we insult industrialists, call them thieves and dacoits? What is this? But at the same time the unscrupulous ones would either have to flee the country or spend life in jail).
“But this didn’t happen earlier as a lot of things happened behind closed doors. Don’t we know in whose planes they (rival parties’ leaders) travel,” the PM said in one of his strongest attack on rivals for calling him industry friendly. Though Modi didn’t name any party, the plane barb was largely seen as a response to the criticism against him for allegedly using the chopper and plane of an industrialist during the 2014 Lok Sabha poll campaign. “The support of every section is important to take the country forward. We are not afraid of standing alongside industrialists,” he said. The PM said there were people who were shy of meeting industrialists in public and believed in doing everything on the sly, behind the curtains.
“Hum wo log nahi hai jo udyogpatiyon ke bagal main khade rahne se darte hain .. warna kuchh logon ko toh aapne dekha hoga ..unki ek photo aap nahi nikaal sakte kisi udyogpati ke saath ...lekin desh ka ek bhi udyogpati aisa nahi hoga jisne unke ghar ja kar ke shashtaang dandwat na kiya ho (we are not afraid to stand alongside industrialists. Getting photos of some people with industrialists is virtually impossible. But there won’t be a single industrialist who has not prostrated before them in their home),” Modi said.
Pointing to industrialist and former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, who was also present at the function, he said: “Ye Amar Singh yaha baithe hai... yeh sabki history nikaal denge” (Amar Singh is sitting here. He knows everyone’s history).”
“When the intentions are honest, your image remains intact irrespective of whom you stand with,” Modi said.
“Just as farmers, artists, bankers, government employees and labourers have a role in shaping the country, similarly industrialists also have a contribution to make in the nation’s development,” he said.