Didn't become PM to cut ribbons and light lamps: Narendra Modi

1. Didn't become PM to cut ribbons and light lamps: Narendra Modi Raises OROP at Uttarakhand rally, says issue was pending for 40 years, previous govts misled forces Addressing a public rally in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came down heavily on his critics, saying that he hadn't come to power merely to cut ribbons and light lamps. The remarks came even as Modi inaugurated the the Chardham highway, which is expected to improve connectivity between the four pilgrimage centres of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The assembly polls in the state are scheduled to be held shortly. In a fiery speech, the Prime Minister said that the people of Uttarakhand were no longer willing to wait for development, and that the inauguration of the Chardham is a tribute to those who lost their lives in the flash floods that hit the state in 2013. Asserting that Uttarakhand's economy was centred around tourism, Modi said that if proper infrastructure was provided, the sector would bustle, and people from all over would flock to the state. He claimed that the Chardham project offered employment opportunities for state's citizens. Reminding the people that the country had given the absolute majority to a single party for the first time in years, Modi nudged to them to decide whether they got him to power just to inaugurate small projects, or to deliver the goods. He reiterated his claim that he had been appointed a chowkidaar (sentry) of the people and that 'some people' -- indicating the Opposition -- had a huge problem with this.(more)

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