Modi: Accomplishments so far appetiser, main course to come

PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi on Friday said at an election rally in Rajasthan’s Churu that the accomplishments of his government over the last 10 years were just “an appetiser”, and that the main course was yet to come.

“When you go to a big hotel for a meal, they bring an appetiser first. They serve two- four savoury items. So sometimes, you feel this is enough and the stomach is already full... What Modi has done so far is just the appetiser. An entire plate of food is yet to come. A lot has to be done, there are many more dreams,” he said.

BJP has fielded Paralympics medallist Devendra Jhajharia from Churu, against Congress’s Rahul Kaswan, who recently switched over from the BJP.

Addressing the rally, Modi said that in 10 years, crores of people were given pucca homes under the Centre’s housing scheme for the poor. He alleged that earlier, when such schemes were implemented, the poor would not even get to know about them and the money meant for it would be embezzled by those in government and in the ruling party. “But now, the money reaches the accounts of the poor directly,” he said.

The PM noted that in Rajasthan, drinking water connections were provided to around 50 lakh homes, and 4.5 crore people are being given free ration every month. “The BJP government stands with the poor. The things which weren’t done for decades, we did them in 10 years,” he said, adding, however, these accomplishments were only a “trailer”.

Recalling the last time he was in Churu, on February 26, 2019, he said, “At that time, the country had conducted airstrikes in Balakot ( in Pakistan), and we had taught terrorists a lesson. I will now repeat the words I had said at the time in Churu: Saugandh mujhe is mitti ki, main desh nahi mitne dunga, main desh nahi rukne dunga, main desh nahi jhukne dunga. Mera vachan hai Bharat Ma ko, tera sheesh nahi jhukne doonga ( I swear on this soil, I won’t let the nation fade, stop, or bow down. I give my word to Mother India, I will not let you bow down).” He said, “... the Congress prioritised appeasement. The country has seen limits to which they can go for appeasement.”