PM Modi: Agriculture is the Backbone of Rural Economy, Need for Corporate Investment

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Agriculture is the backbone of rural economy. But we need to change the old ways of thinking. We need to think beyond partisan lines to hand-hold the farmer. The corporate world has no investment in agriculture beyond making tractors. There needs to be more investment in food processing, building warehouses, facilitating the movement from seed to the market. We need to have a futuristic vision for agriculture.”

PM Modi said this in his reply on the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha. "A modern, fast-growing economy which needs to count among the top five in the world has to account for the common man as well as lay down strong infrastructure for such growth to be possible," he said.

PM further added, “People make fun of Make in India. But can anyone here disagree with the fact that we have to develop our manufacturing sector. Why is it that we, who had more resources and infrastructure than China in defence infrastructure 50 years back are now the biggest importer of defence equipment while China is among the biggest exporter? We need to think on these lines if we have to become a $5- trillion economy.” 

He also emphasised that the new national slogan beyond “Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan, Jai Vigyan” should factor in “Jai Anusandhan (hail innovation and research)”.

PM also targeted Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi who were both present in the House. He referred to the various corruption charges against them.

He stated that “We will continue our fight against corruption. This is not the Emergency where the Government will put anyone in jail. There are the courts for that. So those who have got bail from the courts should enjoy themselves. We are servants of the people. We neither have nor do we want the luxury of vacationing abroad after six months of a hard election.”