PM takes a dig at Cong over ‘chowkidar’ jibe
Those who were in the habit of looting, they are now feeling afraid of the country’s ‘chowkidar’
Narendra Modi, PM
DHARAMSALA — Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said those who were in the habit of looting money were now afraid of the country’s ‘chowkidar’. Like the soldiers earlier, the Congress “is now befooling the farmers”.
“Those who were in the habit of looting, they are now feeling afraid of the country’s ‘chowkidar’ and are now abusing him,” Modi said, without naming the Opposition Congress. He said they were now befooling the farmers in the name of waiving farm loans.
In his nearly one hour-long address to the public here, marking the first anniversary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule in the state, he said his government at the Centre has given Rs12,000 crore to soldiers in four instalments under the One Rank, One Pension scheme. “For the last 40 years, this country’s soldier was demanding the One Rank, One Pension scheme. The then government fooled our soldiers and kept only Rs 500 crore for it. When we came to power, I called for the file and officers were left stunned.”
“We realised there was Rs12,000 crore required for it. It’s difficult for the government to take out Rs12,000 crore in one go so I called soldiers and asked them to give it in four-five instalments and they agreed. Today I am happy, we gave it in four instalments,” he said. —