Will not tread 'path of sin' to pursue development: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today attacked those questioning his government's performance, asserting it had launched over 700 schemes and vowing to pursue development without treading the "path of sin" even if it meant some tasks remained undone.

Describing development as his "dream, path and destination", he pledged to root out middlemen from the system as he charged the previous government with having "yielded to the pressure from various lobbies".

"I may be asked why Modi doesn't do big things? Earlier governments have done big things, they did it for big people, they reaped big benefits out of it. Do I have to commit such sin?" Modi asked, addressing a public meeting here as part of 'Vikas Parv' (festival of development) on completion of his government's two years in office.

As the crowd shouted "no" in response, Modi said, "When people like you bless me and show affection towards me. I don't have to go on that path of sin. No matter if one or two works don't happen, but I will not let this country to go on the path of sin. This is my promise to you."

"In this journey of development, I want your help and  cooperation. Development is my dream; development is my path;  development is my destination; development is my aim;  development is my strength; development is my inspiration; and on that basis, I want to take the nation to new heights and for this I need your help and cooperation and blessings," he said.

Slamming his critics who "started questioning his work" even when he had not even seen his office or Parliament properly, Modi said his government's programmes were mostly for the benefit of the poor and farmers, besides ending the role of middlemen, including in jobs.

"My government had not completed even one week in office and some people started questioning its work. We were asked to give an account of our work. There are some people in this country who talk of democracy but don't believe in the government elected by the people. They cannot digest (NDA coming to power). They wonder where from I came. I have come from this land, from among you," he said.

Making a passing reference to his call for 'Congress mukt Bharat' (Congress-free India), Modi said the people had now taken that task into their own hands.

"People of this country have taken the responsibility of making India Congress free, while my government has decided to make India free of middle men. We do not want middle men, it is they who have looted the poor and the country," he told the well-attended public meeting.

"Middlemen have been stopped from getting richer. This is the change we have brought in. We have done the work of bringing more than 700 schemes in past two years," the Prime Minister said.

Highlighting his government's commitment to farmers' welfare, Modi said, "We cannot bring in change without considering farmers' welfare. I have a dream to double the income of the farmers by 2022 - an occasion for celebrating 75 years of Indian independence, and I need your (people's) help and cooperation."

Modi cited Pradhan Mantri Krishi Beema Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana, Soil Healthcard Yojana, Etanol Yojana and E-market Yojana, among others, which will directly benefit farmers, to stress his government's commitment to them.

Noting that governments in the past used to boast of making laws, Modi said, "We have eliminated as many as 1200 laws which were of no use, 100 years old, some 150 years old which was a burden on our people."

The Prime Minister also spoke about how the government had done away with the requirement of interview for Class III and IV government jobs.

Talking about making of ethanol from sugarcane, he said the idea was already there but the previous government "yielded" to pressure from petrol and diesel lobbies which "I refused to do".

He said the government would raise the limit of Ethanol mix in petrol and diesel from the current level of five per cent. In some foreign countries, it is upto 30 per cent.

"I want to increase it further (the limit to mix Ethanol in fuel)," the Prime Minister said, adding that it will help the farmers earn more and will be environment friendly.

Noting that different surveys have pointed out that people across the country have liked his clean India (Swacch Bharat) initiative the most, Modi said, "This shows that people want cleanliness."

"If there is right direction, clean intention, every one will get involve in things, I have realised it. I thank everyone publicly for involving themselves in this effort."

Speaking about the success of "Jan Dhan" scheme, "GiveItUp" and LPG Subsidy schemes he said "Our mission is good education for poor, good salary for the son of poor and good and essential medicine for aged parents of the poor."
Modi said at his call for "GiveItUp LPG Subsidy", about 1.13 crore well to do families have given it up.

For the first time within a year more than 3 crore poor families have been given new gas connections by the government and five crore more poor families will be covered over the next three years.