Bhubaneswar, June 20: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a scathing critique of the Congress party's post-Independence governance model, contrasting it with what he described as the BJP’s results-driven and inclusive approach to development.
“For years after Independence, people witnessed the Congress model, which neither offered good governance nor an easier life for the common people,” Modi said while addressing a large public gathering in Bhubaneswar to mark one year of the BJP government in Odisha.
“Delaying development schemes and fostering corruption became its identity. However, in recent years, the country has seen the BJP model of development, which puts people first and focuses on accountability, speed, and inclusion,” the PM said.
The Prime Minister particularly focused on the plight of tribal communities, who he said were long neglected and politically exploited by successive Congress governments.
“For decades, the party that ruled the country used tribal communities merely for votes. They neither ensured their development nor gave them real participation in governance,” Modi stated.
He underscored that until 2014, more than 125 tribal-dominated districts were under the grip of Naxal violence, forming what was widely known as the ‘Red Corridor’.
“These districts were labeled backward and left to struggle in an atmosphere of fear, violence, and underdevelopment,” he said.
Modi emphasized that his government has worked consistently to change this narrative.
“In recent years, we have made focused efforts to bring these communities out of violence and on the path of peace and progress. Tribal regions are now witnessing better infrastructure, education, healthcare, and employment opportunities.”
Highlighting his government’s focus on regional balance, PM Modi said Eastern India would be central to India’s 21st-century growth story.
“The development of 21st-century India will gain momentum from Eastern India. This is the essence of Purvodaya,” he declared.
Modi noted that with the formation of the BJP government in Odisha last year, the Purvodaya mission has received a strong boost.
“We are committed to the all-round development of Odisha and the entire eastern region. With political stability and public support, the pace of progress has accelerated in this part of the country,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that India’s transformation in recent years is not a coincidence but the result of a shift in governance philosophy. “This is the new India where every citizen, every community, and every region has a stake in the nation's growth,” he said.
