PM Modi lays foundation stone for medical college in Ghazipur, attacks Congress for offering 'lollipops' to farmers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday laid foundation stone of a medical college and also released commemorative postal stamp on Maharaja Suheldeo Rajbhar at an event in Ghazipur. 

Speaking at a public rally after, the Prime Minister attacked the opposition Congress, accusing it of cheating farmers in the name of loan waiver promises and asked the farming community to beware of such "lollipops".

He also asserted that he, as a "chowkidar" (watchman), will not allow "thieves" to get away but would ensure that they reach their "rightful place". 

The Prime Minister is on a day-long visit to Ghazipur and Varanasi to inaugurate several development projects. After his event in Ghazipur, boycotted by NDA's regional allies - SBSP and Apna Dal (S), he will go to his Lok Sabha constituency. 

He will inaugurate the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC) on the campus of National Seed Research and Training Centre (NSRTC) in Varanasi and will also attend the 'One District, One Product' Regional Summit at Deendayal Hastakala Sankul (Trade Facilitation Centre & Crafts Museum).

Addressing a rally at RTI ground in Ghazipur, the Prime Minister said, during his visit to the state today, several important steps are being taken to transform Purvanchal into a big medical hub, an agro research centre and to strengthen the small industries of UP.

Modi said his government was committed to uplift the poor and the farmers while others were eyeing "instant political benefits" by offering "lollipops" like loan waivers.

"What kind of promises are being made? For instant political benefits, promises are made, decisions are taken. But these can't be a permanent solution (to the problem), the prime minister said, referring to the loan waiver announced by the newly-formed Congress governments in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

"Even before the 2009 (Lok Sabha) polls, they (then Congress government at the Centre) offered lollipop like loan waiver," he said, and asked, "Was your loan waived? Did your accounts get money? Will you believe such people, such lollipops, such people who cheat the public."

He said the previous Congress-led UPA government did not even implement the Swaminathan Commission report which has recommendations for addressing the farming sector woes.

"The Congress sat on it (the report). Had the Commission report been implemented 11 years back, there would have been no need for loan waiver," Modi said.

"So beware of loan waiver promises made by such people," he added.

Modi said his government was implementing programmes which are aimed at empowering the farmers and other sections of the society.

The BJP government's programmes are for listening to the problems of the farmers and benefiting the entire society, he said.

"Yeh chowkidar bahut imandari se, bahut lagan se, din raat kaam kar raha hai. Aap apna vishwas rakho (this guard is working day and night with full honesty and commitment. Keep your faith)," the prime minister said.

"Iss chowkidar ki wajeh se, choron ki neend ud gayi hai (because of this guard, the thieves have lost their sleep), he added.

He asked people to keep faith in him as he promised to ensure that "the thieves are taken to their rightful place". 

(With ANI inputs)