Will not spare benami property holders: Modi

Tribune News Service

Guwahati, May 26

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today vowed to continue with NDA government’s fight against “benami” property in the country, saying the money seized would be utilised for the benefit of the poor.

In his address on the completion of BJP-led government’s three years in office, Modi pledged to bring about a “class-less society” in the country where people from all walks of life could live with dignity. “The overwhelming support of the people to the government over the past three years is humbling. It has inspired me to dedicate myself to the service of the nation and its people,” Modi said.

“Demonetisation was an extremely hard decision that powerful lobbies tried to derail. But the government emerged unscathed because of people’s support. Over 90 lakh people have come forward to pay income tax. I appreciate one crore families that have given up LPG subsidy, allowing us to provide LPG connection to crores of BPL families,” Modi said, adding his government would continue to bank on technology to take development to the doorstep of the common man.

Lauding people for their support to the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, the PM said villages were now competing with each other to get open defecation-free status. Promising a ‘New India’ by 2022, Modi called himself a “small man” from modest background who would strive to do “big things” for the common man.

He announced Rs 1 lakh SAMPADA programme to revolutionise the food processing sector in the country that would benefit farmers and help create jobs. He said the creamy layer bracket among the OBC had been raised to Rs 8 lakh per annum from Rs 6 lakh.

Earlier in the day, the PM laid foundation stones of AIIMS at Changsari, near Guwahati, and Indian Agriculture Research Institute (IARI) at Gogamukh in Dhemaji district. At Gogamukh, he called upon farmers in the North-East to adopt organic farming. He cited Sikkim farmers who had taken to organic farming in a big way. The country could become a global organic hub if the North-East tapped its potential. 

Modi used “New Economy”, “New Energy”, “New Empowerment”, “New Engine” to define N-E (North-East) and underlined five ways for rapid development of the region — highways, railways, waterways, airways and I-way (Information highway).