PM Modi that some people were taking satisfaction in the country's difficulties and spreading rumors to defame him. Screengrab: ANI
PM Modi takes swipe at Opposition, says they 'want to see the country in difficulty'
The Prime Minister said some people were spreading rumours amid Gulf tensions to defame him, while highlighting government support for farmers
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday (October 30) took a veiled dig at the Opposition, saying that while people across the country were working towards making it a developed nation, some were unhappy with this goal and wanted to see the country in difficulty. Addressing a gathering in Banaskantha, Gujarat, he accused them of spreading rumours about fertiliser and gas shortages amid tensions in the Gulf.
Swipe at Opposition
“Today, every youth, sister and daughter is working towards making India a developed nation. But some people do not like this. These are the people who want to see the country in difficulty,” PM Modi said without naming anyone.
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He alleged that some people were taking satisfaction in the country's difficulties and spreading rumours to defame him.
“They feel happy when they see the country in difficulty. When the nation as one is facing uncertainties emerging due to tensions in the Gulf, they spread rumours about shortages of fertilisers and gas. They wanted to do this only to defame Modi,” he said as quoted by ANI.
PM Modi says govt stood by farmers
PM Modi said the government had stood by farmers despite rising international fertiliser prices. “I want to remind the farmers and all others that I had said that I would stand by you all,” he added.
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The Prime Minister further stated that more than Rs 18,000 crore had been transferred to nearly 10 crore farmers under the latest PM-KISAN instalment. Gujarat accounted for over Rs 1,000 crore, reaching more than 50 lakh farmers. Banaskantha received nearly Rs 50 crore, he added.
Cites farm budget, PM-KISAN transfers
He said the agriculture budget had grown more than fivefold since 2013-14. Transfers under PM-KISAN had crossed Rs 4.5 lakh crore, while farmers had received or saved more than Rs 50 lakh crore through government policies, he said.
PM Modi said the government had spent Rs 16 lakh crore to shield farmers from higher fertiliser prices.