Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday spelt out a strong welfarist polity underlining measures such as PM Kisan, drinking water for all and innovation in agriculture in an otherwise sharply political speech demolishing the present Congress leadership and using the Emergency anniversary to recall how his political opponents “crushed the soul of India”.

Replying to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, which was passed in the Lok Sabha with a majority vote, the PM said his priority would be on policy measures for “the ease of living for the common man in New India”. While highlighting priority areas that underscore what he unambiguously defined as a “welfare state”, along with heavy investment in infrastructure to build a fast-growing economy, Modi simultaneously slammed the Congress for its alleged elitism, dynastic and corrupt culture, which he classified as another important focal point for his government.

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Underlining that in just three weeks of government formation, PM Kisan had been extended to all farmers, provision for pension had been made for small traders and a separate Jal Shakti Mantralaya set up, he said: “The state exists for those who have no one to look after them…We have a dream for a New India in which ease of living for the common man is the first goal.”

The PM focussed for a large part on agriculture, asserting that modernisation, innovation and investment in agriculture is a priority area. “We need to hand-hold the farmer,” he said.

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