Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrating his eight years in power, said the ruling BJP-led NDA dispensation had brought in balanced development, social justice and social security in India and now it was time for them to "set goals for the next 25 years". 

In the 75th year of India's independence, as the country is setting for itself the goals for the next 25 years, it is the time for the BJP to fix the goals for the next 25 years and to work continuously for them, a confident Modi declared. 

In an apparent swipe at opposition parties, Modi said some political parties keep looking for "small incidents of tension" to inject poison for their selfish interests, without making any direct reference to recent upsurge in communal tensions and allegations of assault on minorities by state outfits and organisations aligned ideologically to the BJP.

“Attempts will be made to deviate you from the country’s development issues but you have to stick to them,” Modi BJP leaders and workers.

Modi asserted that people’s faith in the government’s delivery mechanism had been restored post-2014 and asked party leaders and workers to launch a campaign to ensure that no poor, eligible beneficiary is left out of the government’s welfare measures.

“This month, the NDA government will complete eight years. These eight years have been of resolutions and accomplishments. These eight years have been committed to service, good governance and welfare of the poor,” he said.

Modi said that eight years have been of fulfilment of the expectations of small farmers, labourers and the middle class.

“These eight years have been of the country’s balanced development, social justice and social security. These eight years have been dedicated to the empowerment of mothers, daughters and sisters,” he said.

The BJP government post-2014 has restored the faith of the people in the government, its systems and its delivery mechanism, that had been lost earlier, the prime minister added.

Modi said the world is looking at India with great expectations. Similarly, in India, the people have a special affection for the BJP. "The people of the country are looking at the BJP with great faith and hope,” he said.

The Modi-led government, which came to power May 2014,  is in its second term of five years and will go as favorites for a third term into the general election scheduled for 2024.

(SAM)