Ensure India’s growth: PM to 1st-time voters

SOLAN: Prime Minister on Monday urged first-time voters to vote to ensure development of the country in the 21st century.

Addressing an election rally at Solan in Himachal Pradesh, Modi said had the Congress-led UPA government maintained the growth rate achieved during former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s term, it would have been much higher now.

When the UPA-I assumed power in 2004, the country’s growth rate was pegged at 8 % but the Congress -led government brought it down to 5%, he said.

The pace of development had increased in the last five years and the inflation rate had come down to almost half since the BJP came to power in 2014, he added.

Modi slammed the Congress, saying it was shying away from discussing issues like inflation and national security. Seeking support for BJP’s Shimla candidate Suresh Kashyap, Modi, highlighted the schemes launched by the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Referring to Ayushman Bharat, Modi said the number of beneficiaries from the health protection scheme was more than the total population of USA, Canada and Mexico. “As many as 50 crore Indians are provided free medical facilities up to Rs 5 lakh per annum under Ayushman Yojana,” he said.

Taking a jibe at Rahul Gandhi, Modi recounted how he had been subjected to numerous abuses by the Congress president.

“But I am undeterred, because my aim is to build a strong nation,” he said.

He also praised chief minister Jai Ram Thakur for “exemplary implementation” of the PM-Kisan scheme.

PM HAS AGAIN ‘FOOLED’ PEOPLE OF HP: RATHORE

State Congress Committee president Kuldeep Singh Rathore on Monday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “fooling” the people of the state again.

Reacting to PM’s rally at Solan, Rathore said the people would not fall into his trap this time.

“He has not fulfilled even a single promise which he made during his previous visit,” Rathore said. “What happened to the announcement of increasing the import duty on apples? What happened to the promise of granting tribal statues to the people of Hatti community of Transgiri area of Sirmaur district? People of Himachal will give a befitting reply to the BJP for ignoring the issues of the state in the past five years,” said Rathore.