In Gujarat, PM Modi Bats for Majority Govt, Defends Demonetisation

PM Modi said “hung parliaments” had stalled the country’s progress in the last three decades.

PM Narendra Modi. 

(Photo: PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 30 January, stressed the need for a full-majority government at the Centre, saying “hung parliaments” stalled the country's progress in the last three decades.

Addressing a gathering in Surat, he also defended the government's demonetisation move, saying it brought down prices of houses and made them affordable for the young generation by checking black money in the real estate sector.

“As you all know, India witnessed instability for 30 years due to hung parliaments, as no party received a majority. This had stalled the country’s development. And the country even regressed on some parameters due to that situation.”

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

"We are progressing today because the people applied their wisdom in casting votes (in 2014 elections). Their votes eradicated that 30-year-old illness called hung parliament and helped form a full majority government at the Centre," the prime minister said.

The prime minister said his government in the last four and a half years constructed 1.30 crore houses, as against 25 lakh houses built under the previous UPA government.

While he and his government are trying to change the old system, some people are mocking his efforts, Modi said.

“Some people, who only cared for themselves and did not think about the country for six-seven decades, cannot see a changing India. But we will move forward without paying attention to such people who have a negative mentality.”

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister

Modi also said the NDA government showed courage in granting quota for the economically weaker section in the general category.

"The non-reserved classes were angry. They were having expectations. We have shown courage and amended the Constitution, without which, the 10 percent quota was not possible," he said.

‘People With Negative Mindset Questioning Pro-Poor Schemes’

Modi on Wednesday also dedicated the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial and Museum at Dandi in Gujarat's Navsari district on Mahatma Gandhi's 71st death anniversary.

Speaking later, Modi hit out at his detractors, saying people with "negative mentality" had tried to stop Mahatma Gandhi from taking out the historic Dandi march, and such people are now questioning him and his government for floating pro-people schemes.

Without taking any name, Modi said such people raised doubts on schemes launched by his government for the poor such as building toilets and providing free gas connections.

Referring to critical views about the newly-inaugurated Statue of Unity of Sardar Patel in Gujarat's Narmada district, he said no French or US citizen had ever criticised their iconic monuments like the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty.

"However, there are people in India who have criticised the Statue of Unity. But today, it has became a major (tourist) attraction, drawing over 5 lakh visitors every month," said Modi.

(This story has been edited for clarity and length.)