

Varanasi: Taking an indirect potshot at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, Union HRD minister Smriti Irani said instead of merely breaking bread with the poor, politicians should be honest about their intentions towards them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's efforts for uplift of the poor have paid rich dividends and it was because of him that the UN is observing the 125th birth anniversary of Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, she added.

"Instead of befooling people by holding grand shows to offer tributes to legends like Ambedkar, politicians today should keep their intentions clear for people's interest," Smriti said after unveiling a statue of Ambedkar on the occasion of his birth anniversary at Modi's second adopted village Nagepur on Thursday.

In an indirect attack on Rahul, she said: "Visiting the hut of a poor family with a group of reporters and eating 'roti' with them to prove their intentions is not necessary for a leader. Modi was born in a poor family and he lived poverty due to which he knows problems and grief of the poor. He came to power with their blessings and schemes launched by him have seen a lot of improvement in the condition of the poor and the downtrodden."

"It is for the first time that Ambedkar is being remembered at the UN. While feting the Prime Minister for the momentous event, we should also remember that he is the only PM to have visited Ravidas temple. Modi not only bowed his head at Ravidas temple in Kashi on the birth anniversary of the saint, but also consumed 'prasad' at the community 'langar' of the temple like an ordinary follower," she said. "Though other parties too remember Ambedkar, only Modi thought of observing Constitution Day."

"Ambedkar showed how progress is possible by staying in limits of law and Modi proved how dreams of Ambedkar can be materialized," said Smriti.

In an indirect reference to late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, she said: "Once a PM had admitted that only 10 paise of one rupee reach people when it is released by the Centre. But, today Modi government has ensured that cent percent money released for the people reaches them. The launching of Jan-Dhan Yojana is aimed at implementing this vision of the government. This scheme is a real tribute to Ambedkar, who wanted economic empowerment of all."

The minister addressed a huge gathering of women who had assembled at an improperly covered ground in Nagepur and dedicated the first digitalized Aanganbadi center-cum-Nand Ghar to mark the launching of programme to link all Aanganbadi centers of the country with Digital India programme.

Earlier, on reaching Nagepur, which is the second village after Jayapur adopted by Modi under Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, Smriti unveiled a statue of Ambedkar and apart from dedicating digitalized Aanganbadi center she also distributed certificates and keys among the beneficiaries of e-rickshaw, dairy development and other employment generation programme.



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