National security is a punching bag for Cong: Modi

ACCUSES CONG OF LIP SERVICE TO FARMERS; BJP RYOT FRIENDLY

16/12/2018

CHENNAI, Dec 15: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday launched a blistering attack on the Congress party, saying national security and defence sector were either a punching bag or a funding source for it.
Modi's attack on the opposition party came even as the Congress accused the government of "misleading" the Supreme court by presenting wrong information about the CAG report on the Rafale deal and demanded that the government apologise for it.
The Congress has also said the Supreme Court, which gave the government relief in the Rafale jet case, has not gone into the pricing and technical aspects of the aircraft and it is only a joint parliamentary committee that can probe whether there was any irregularity in the deal.
Targeting the main opposition party in an interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu through video conference from New Delhi, Modi alleged that the (Congress) leaders call the army chief names and mock at the (2016) surgical strike on the one hand.
"On the other hand, they have looted the defence sector from the jeep scam back in the 1940s and 50s to Bofors in the 80s, the AgustaWestland and submarine scam, among many others," he said.
"All they see is the way to make money even if it means the morale of our forces is diminished.
Sadly, for the Congress, national security and the defence sector are either a punching bag or a funding source," he said.
Modi said the country was proud of the forces and have faith in them and the government has ensured operational freedom for them to deal with "those who are our harming the country."
"The surgical strikes show how capable our forces are to give a strong answer to those who attack us," he said.
During an election campaign in Rajasthan recently, Modi had slammed Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "raising doubts" over the cross-border surgical strike carried out by the Army in September 2016.
The prime minister Saturday also said it was the BJP-led NDA government that fulfilled the long pending demand for One Rank One Pension for armed forces and veterans that was lying uanattended for 40 years.
Apparently referring to the previous UPA government, Modi alleged that after much persuasion, it left a mere Rs 500 crore aside for the OROP "which was nothing short of a cruel joke."
"When we got the opportunity to implement the OROP, we did it with full sincerity," he said.
As part of his nation-wide dialogue with BJP workers in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections, Modi said "ours is a government that values your safety and well-being above everything. We will do everything possible to protect India and the 130 crore Indians."
"We are a peace loving nation but will not hesitate to give a fitting reply to anti-social elements who harm our people and disturb our development," he said.
The prime minister said when it comes to national security, the morale of the forces was important.
"Among the first things that the government did after coimg to power was that we have conveyed to the soldiers that we value them. The soldier who is standing at the border knows that the country is standing behind him," he said.
The Maoist terror, which had once affected many districts, was on the decline and there has been a major crackdown against maoists and their sympathisers, Modi said.
"Fortyfour districts, which were earlier afected by Left wing terrorism, show zero incidence of violence in the last four years," he said.
"It has happened because, on the one hand, there has been sustained campaign by the security forces to fight back, while on the other, the government is making efforts to develop these regions," Modi said.
"In Kashmir, while we have reached out to the people in full measure, the army has struck a heavy blow to terror and eliminated terrorists in record mumbers," he pointed out.
Recently, panchayat polls were held peacefully which show great participation (of people), he said.
"Striking terrorists where it hurts them the most has become a new normal in India's anti-terror policy," he said.
As part of enhancing the country's security, Modi said, India's pride, nuclear submarine INS Arihant successfully completed its first deterrence patrol on November 5.
"The success of INS Arihant enhances India's security needs and it is a major achievement for our entire nation and with INS Arihant, India's nuclear triad is complete," the prime minister said.
"True to its name, INS Arihant will protect Indians from external threats and contribute to the atmosphere of peace in the region..will ensure peace," he added.
Modi accused the Congress of paying lip-service to farmers' welfare and listed his party-led government's initiatives for their well being RPT well being.
"We are not like the Congress which will only pay lip-service to farmers but ignore their well-being..whenever Congress is in power, farmers suffer," Modi said.
Launching an all out attack on the opposition party during his interaction with BJP workers from Tamil Nadu via video conference from New Delhi, Modi alleged that in Maharashtra, the Congress was at the forefront of an irrigation scam.
Just a few days ago, a top Congress leader from Punjab said his party led government in Punjab was not serious about issues relating to sugarcane farmers, Modi alleged.
Citing media reports on loan waiver for farmers, Modi said in Karnakata, where the Congress-JDS coalition government is in power, "only 800 farmers got mere benefits, is this a joke? is this how serious they are they about farmers."
Only BJP understood farmers and agriculture issues, he said.
On farmer friendly initiatives, he asked if noted agriculture scientist M S Swaminathan's report did not exist during the UPA rule.
The BJP-led government is the most farmer friendly government, he said. "In a historic step, the MSP has been increased to ensure that farmers get at least 150 per cent of cost of production."
The National Policy for Farmers, a policy framework, was prepared by Swaminathan, who was the chairman of the National Commission on Farmers during the 2004-09 UPA rule.
The NPF's policy goals include improving the economic viability of farming by substantially increasing the net income of farmers and a better Minimum Support Price.
During the UPA rule, when farmers asked for urea all they got was lathi-charge, he claimed. When they asked for higher MSPs, all they got was empty promises, he said.
Farmers asked for increase in income but all they got was insensitivity, he claimed.
From 2009-14, the UPA government allocated Rs 1.21 lakh crore for agriculture sector while in the last 4 years, the BJP-led government allocated Rs 2.11 lakh crore.
During 2009-14, only a quantity of 7.28 lakh tonnes of pulses and oil seeds was procured under the MSP.
In the last 4 years, the BJP government procured 93.97 lakh tonnes of pulses and oil seeds under MSP which is 13 times the quantity procured by UPA, Modi said.
Overall, the NDA government has brought about a paradigm shift and is working hard to double the farmers income, he said.
"This is happening by reducing input cost, wastage and ensuring fair price for crop and creating alternative means of income."
He also referred to 'e-nam' (National Agriculture Market) for best market prices and said more than 1.27 crore farmers and sellers were already on the platfrom and get high returns.
Focus was also on initiatives like cold chain and food park for value addition to increase profit, he said.

Photo Gallery

BSE Sensex

NSE Nifty