PM Modi states poll freebies as a burden on taxpayers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated that poll freebies increase taxpayers’ burden, prevent the country from becoming self-reliant and block investments in new technologies. The act of giving away freebies is not in the interest of the nation and will push it back.

He further said that as a country, we have to take a pledge that we will not allow such tendencies to grow. This is a collective responsibility of the country.

The PM said, “If there is selfishness in politics, then anyone can come and announce to give free petrol and diesel. Such steps will take away the rights of our children, and prevent the country from becoming self-reliant. Due to such selfish policies, the burden on honest taxpayers of the country will also increase. To deal with the challenges that the country is facing, it needs clear intentions and commitment. It requires extreme hard work, policy and huge investments.”

He also said if the government does not have money, then plants like ethanol, biogas and solar plants will also close down. “We have to remember that even though we will not be there, but this nation will always be there, the children living in it will always be there. Those who sacrificed their lives for freedom have also worked with this eternal spirit”, he further added.

The Panipat ethanol plant has the capacity to produce 100 kilo litres of ethanol a day using parali. Farmers used to burn the paralis in the absence of proper mechanism in place to use them, causing pollution in the adjoining areas. With the setting up of the modern plant, farmers of Haryana will get another lucrative means of using crop residue.

From just around 1.41%, ethanol blending with petrol has increased to 10.16% now. During the last 7-8 years, the country has saved around Rs 50,000 crore from the increased ethanol blending programme and about the same amount has gone to the farmers’ kitty. He said till eight years ago only 40 crore litre ethanol was produced in the country, which has now gone up nearly 10 times.