Says common man does not want and freebies
AMN /New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday gave hints that forthcoming budget may not be populist saying it was “a myth” that people wanted sops and freebies.
It is the responsibility of the government to understand the needs and aspirations of the people and work toward achieving them honestly, Modi said.
“Budget is the property of Parliament. It falls under the ambit of our finance minister, so I don’t want to interfere in that,” Modi said in an interview with Times Now TV.
“But…the common man does not want all these things (sops). It’s a myth. The common man expects honesty, he expects to get what he deserves. He doesn’t demand sops and freebies. It is our myth, and I trust the common man of the country. We run the government, take decisions to fulfil their needs and aspirations.”
His remarks come in the context of expectations that finance minister Arun Jaitley’s next budget, to be presented on 1 February, will contain measures to please the voters, especially those in the rural areas that have experienced agrarian distress, ahead of next year’s general election.
Replying to a question on rural distress, Modi said that it was the duty of the central government and state governments to work together and find solutions to the problems of farmers. Critics have called for measures to ease rural distress.
“This criticism is justified. We can’t deny this. It is the responsibility of the country, of the state governments, the Union government, my responsibility that the problems faced by our farmers are understood and resolved. Some of our attempts and measures in the past have instilled confidence, especially Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana,” he added.