Days of vote-bank politics over: Narendra Modi

Slamming previous regimes for carrying out appeasement and vote-bank politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today pitched for development and good governance saying he wants to create opportunities for a "neo- middle class" that has come above the poverty line. Giving credit to the youth for bringing out a "change" in the course of Indian politics, Modi said there is a new wave of aspiration in the country after the change of government as youth had earlier only seen disappointment.

"Earlier there was a habit in our country to keep small groups happy. Divide in small groups and keep your vote-bank intact. This has changed now.
"The thinking of the young generation of India has changed. The young generation of the country does not want to live in parts. The change has come due to the youth," Modi said in his address at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Recalling that his party had fought the Lok Sabha elections on the planks of development and good governance which are difficult to pursue in the existing political discourse dominated by vote-bank politics, he said that they are but the only answer to all the problems of India. Asserting that he wants to create opportunities for a neo-middle class to accelerate development, Modi said that his government plans to focus on achieving a balance between agriculture, manufacturing and services to achieve growth.

He said that there is a large number of people, who have gone above the poverty line but are yet to find a place among the middle class. "If we ignore our neo-middle class and they again slide back into poverty, then the poor will lose hope of coming out of poverty," he said as he unveiled his future plans for the country's development. 

Talking about the change of government in India, Modi said that a single party has been able to form government after 30 years and this is the first time that somebody born in independent India has got an opportunity to become Prime Minister. Modi also credited India's democratic set-up for making a person of humble origin like him occupy country's top most position. He said this is the first time in India that two generations have come together with hopes and aspirations.

"Youth of India have so far seen instability and disappointment. Ever since this (election) concluded, aspirations have risen...political stability in itself is a big message. By deciding for stability, people of India have laid the foundation for development," he said. Defining good governance as minimum government and maximum governance, he said that large number of rules and a mammoth hierarchy had become a problem in itself. He said that an atmosphere of trust has been created in last three months and growth was returning. Laying emphasis on skill development, he said that the priority is how to make people job creators through setting up small industries.

Modi, who yesterday used the metaphor of cost of travel by auto in Ahmedabad to compare the expenditure incurred in the landmark Mars Orbiter Mission, today evoked the imagery of a Hollywood film in the same context. "Mars Mission completed its distance of 650 million km in an expenditure less than what is incurred on making a Hollywood film," he said. Modi said that his government's 'Make in India' programme is moving ahead with focus on skill development. The Prime Minister also said that his government has carried out labour reforms, which were not considered politically correct but were badly needed.