"Won't allow even a single person to live below poverty line": Rajnath Singh

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], March 9 (ANI): As the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks a third term in office, Union Minister Rajnath Singh asserted on Saturday that the BJP government, if elected to power, will not let even a single person in the country stay below the poverty line.
The Defence Minister was addressing the 'Kisan Mahakumbh' in Chhattisgarh's Raipur.
"I assure you that, under the leadership of Vishnu Deo Saiji, Chhattisgarh will develop. You must have observed that when Vishnu Deo Saiji assumed the reins of the government, the development came back on track," he said.
Throwing light on the PM Narendra Modi-led government during the past 10 years, he added, "Our government is standing with the farmers. In 2014, when our government came into power, we focused on 'Garib' (poor), 'Gaon' (village), 'Kisan' (farmers), 'Yuva' (youth) and 'Mahila' (women). During the past 10 years, around 25 crore people have come out of poverty. We are not saying this; the NITI Aayog has said this."
"If you elect us for the next term, we will not let a single person remain poor. Modiji had promised to provide the poor with 'Pukka' houses, but the Chhattisgarh government did not do anything for them," he added.
Attacking the previous Congress government, the Union Minister said that corruption took center stage when the grand old party was in power.
"Under the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, Chhattisgarh was given the status of a full-fledged state. However, when the Congress government came into power, you must have seen that corruption took center stage," said the Union Minister.
"I have come here to tell the people of Chhattisgarh, that if there's a party that can bring the state back on track with development, it is the Bharatiya Janata Party. The BJP can embellish the state," he added.
Highlighting the initiatives taken by the BJP government to benefit farmers, Singh said, "If we have to create the fate of Chhattisgarh, we must create the fate of the farmers first. It is known as the 'bowl of paddy'. I have seen farmers exhaust themselves in the fields. Now, India is the only country where urea is available to farmers for merely Rs 300. Before 2014, during the Congress government, the agriculture budget was only Rs 25 thousand crores, which has increased to Rs 1 lakh 25 thousand crores today under the BJP government. An additional Rs 1000 has been given on the current MSP of the rice crop."
"For the first time, a free vaccination campaign is going on to protect animals from diseases. So far, more than 50 million vaccines have been administered to animals in four phases. Here also, this facility will be provided free of charge," he added.
Rajnath Singh further stated that in order to assist the farmers, more than 1.25 lakh 'Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samridhi Kendras' were dedicated to the nation last year across the country.
Underscoring the 'Surya Ghar' scheme, which has recently been given the nod by the Union Cabinet, Singh said, "Under the leadership of Modiji, BJP government has made the PM Surya Ghar-Free Electricity Scheme. By installing solar panels on the roof of the house, you will get up to 300 units of free electricity."
"Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Saiji has kicked off 'Mahtari Vandan Yojna', under which every beneficiary married woman will be provided with Rs 12,000 every year," he said.
Rajnath Singh further highlighted that the country has entered a new era.
"When the country says something, the world is all ears. Many heads of state believe that this century belongs to India," he said.
Throwing a jibe at the previous Congress government at the centre, Singh said, "There have been allegations of corruption during the Congress government, but there hasn't been a single stain of corruption on the government's side under the leadership of Modiji".
The 'farm factor' plays a significant role in Chhattisgarh, given that around 70% of the total population of the state is engaged in agriculture.
Meanwhile, as the Lok Sabha polls draw near, the BJP and the Congress have released their first candidate lists with 195 and 39 names, respectively.
The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)