"Shri Narendra Modi addresses massive rallies in Maharashtra"
"Shri Modi spoke of how the Maharashtra government had paid no heed to the needs of the farming community"
"The Congress’ neglect for its people was clearly brought forth by Shri Modi when he mentioned of the Party’s Manifesto as a ‘Dhokha Patra’ which repeated its old promises"
"Citing votebank politics as the biggest enemy of democracy, Shri Modi mentioned how it had destroyed the social and cultural fabric of the country"
"Shri Modi affirmed of the BJP’s focus on bringing in ‘surajya’ through its mantra of good governance and development"
"Shri Modi urged the people to support the BJP-Shiv Sena-RPI Mahayuti in Maharashtra and take the lead in bringing the change the Nation deserves"
Affirming that the future of Maharashtra and the Nation would only be bright with the riddance of the Congress and its allies, Shri Narendra Modi gave the clarion call of a Congress-free India during his address at rallies in Sangli, Solapur and Latur in Maharashtra, in the afternoon of 9th April. He spoke of the Congress’ indifferent attitude towards the development of its citizens, and called upon the people to end the rule of ‘shasaks’ (rulers) and give a ‘sevak’ (servant) the chance to serve the country. Shri Modi urged the people to support the BJP-Shiv Sena-RPI Mahayuti in Maharashtra and take the lead in bringing the change the Nation deserves.
The Congress’ neglect for its people was clearly brought forth by Shri Modi when he mentioned of the Party’s Manifesto as a ‘Dhokha Patra’ which repeated its old promises. Shri Modi affirmed that the Nation had understood the Congress’ dubious policies and wished to punish those who had ruined the Nation.
Expressing concern for the lack of development in Sangli, Shri Modi stated how the votebank politics of the Congress had rid the Nation of its development potential. Citing votebank politics as the biggest enemy of democracy, he mentioned how it had destroyed the social and cultural fabric of the country, and ruined its people of progress. Shri Modi affirmed that the mantra for the Congress was ‘Har haath loot, har honth jhooth’, and spoke of how promises of growth opportunities were made for the Dhangar and Bunkar samaj by the ruling government, but never fulfilled. He added that the only family to have benefitted was the Shinde family in Maharashtra and the one in Delhi.
Shri Modi further talked about the games played by the NCP and the Congress and spoke of how certain policies like the LBT tax, which according to Shri Modi was ‘Looto Baaton tax’, instituted by the Maharashtra State government, had rid the State and its people of their growth potential. He also retaliated to the Congress Vice President’s statement of the need to have 125 crore ‘chowkidaars’ and questioned him if the list would also include corrupted and tainted ministers like Shri Ashok Chavan, who did not hesitate in taking away the homes meant for the widows of Kargil heroes.
Recalling the magnificent work done by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj towards the prosperity of Maharashtra and the welfare of its farmers, Shri Modi spoke of how the Maharashtra government had paid no heed to ensure this. Laying emphasis on the need to ensure adequate water supply for farming activities, and citing it as the most important prerequisite for farmers’ prosperity, Shri Modi assured the people of the BJP’s focus on ensuring this through adoption of technology and the implementation of Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji’s dream of linking rivers. This, and more such acts by the ruling party and the Central government, Shri Modi said, had distorted Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri ji’s mantra of ‘Jai Jawan, Jai Kisan’ and changed it to ‘Mar Jawan, Mar Kisan’.
Shri Modi expressed concern that despite having Krishna river in its vicinity, a major part of Sangli was facing water shortage. This, Shri Modi said, clearly reflected the State Government’s indifference towards the problems faced by its people. He condemned how under the Congress, the Nation had witnessed misgovernance to the hilt, and affirmed of the BJP’s focus on bringing in ‘surajya’ through its mantra of good governance and development. Emphasizing how the empowerment of farmers was a key aspect in contributing to the Nation’s financial strength, Shri Modi mentioned how the BJP’s Manifesto focused on ensuring this by fixing the minimum support price by adding 50 per cent to the total input cost for the farmer. This, Shri Modi, said would lead to better revenues for the farming community. In Solapur, Shri Modi spoke of the untapped potential of the textile industry, and questioned the State Government’s lack of foresightedness in tapping it and generate employment from it.
Shri Modi critiqued the Congress' lack of empathy for the poor saying poverty was a part of tourism for them. They visited villages, sat with the poor and ate their food only to get pictures clicked. “They don’t know what poverty is. People who are born with a golden spoon, how can they know what poverty is?” said Shri Modi. Recalling his childhood days as a tea-seller, Shri Modi said that he very well understood the pain of being poor, and affirmed that his experience then had only made his resolution of serving the poor more firm.
He also spoke of how the NCP or the Congress’ only focus was on finding a solution to Modi rather than finding ways to tackle the grave concerns of price rise, corruption, unemployment, poverty and the welfare of farmers and women.
Shri Modi applauded the presence of the massive crowd and spoke of how the 2014 Elections were not about the arithmetical calculations of political analysts, but were rather about the chemistry of the emotions of the people. Stating that the 2014 Elections were about the fight between a ‘Naamdar and a Kaamdar’, he appealed to the people to vote for the BJP and support a government that will work towards the welfare of its people, with a special focus on the welfare of the underprivileged.
Shri Devendra Fadnavis and Shri Vinod Tawde were among the senior BJP leaders present during the rallies.
India's Digital Public Infrastructure has today become a subject of global discussion: PM Modi at the Rising Bharat Summit
February 27, 2026
Share
Developed nations are eager to sign trade deals with India because a confident India is rising beyond doubt and despair: PM
In the last 11 years, a new energy has flowed into the nation's consciousness, India is determined to regain its rightful strength: PM
India's Digital Public Infrastructure has today become a subject of global discussion: PM
Today, every move India makes is closely watched and analysed across the world, the AI Summit is a clear example of this: PM
Nation-building never happens through short-term thinking; It is shaped by a long-term vision, patience and timely decisions: PM
The air of Israel has reached here too.
Namaskar!
All journalists of Network 18, all colleagues overseeing this arrangement, all distinguished guests present here, ladies and gentlemen!
You are all discussing Rising India. And in this, your emphasis is on strength within-in simple words, your focus is on the nation’s own inherent capability. In our scriptures it is said: Tat Tvam Asi!-that which we seek in the Brahman is within us, it is us ourselves. The strength lies within us, and we must recognize it. In the past 11 years, India has recognized that very strength, and today the nation is continuously striving to empower it.
Friends,
Strength in a nation does not suddenly emerge; it is built over generations. It is refined through knowledge, tradition, hard work, and experience. But during a long period of history, through centuries of slavery, the very spirit of being strong was filled with inferiority. Imported ideologies instilled deeply into society the belief that we were uneducated and mere followers. Our scriptures say: Yādṛśī bhāvanā yasya, siddhir bhavati tādṛśī-as is one’s belief, so is the accomplishment. When the belief itself was inferior, the accomplishment was also inferior. We copied foreign technologies, waited for foreign approval-this was slavery not just political or geographical, but mental. Unfortunately, even after independence, India could not free itself from this mentality of slavery. And we are still paying the price for it. A fresh example can be seen in the discussions around trade deals. Some people are surprised-how did this happen, why are developed nations so eager to make trade deals with India? The answer lies in a confident India, emerging out of despair and hopelessness. If the country were still stuck in the pre-2014 gloom, counted among the “Fragile Five,” trapped in policy paralysis-who would have made trade deals with us, who would have even looked at us?
But friends,
In the past 11 years, new energy has flowed into the nation’s consciousness. India is now striving to regain its lost strength. Once upon a time, when India had the greatest dominance in the global economy, what was our strength? India’s manufacturing, the quality of Indian products, India’s economic policies. Today’s India is once again focusing on these aspects. That is why we worked on manufacturing, emphasized Make in India, strengthened our banking system, controlled inflation that was running in double digits, and made India the growth engine of the world. It is this strength of India that has developed nations themselves coming forward to make trade deals with us.
Friends,
When the hidden power of a nation awakens, it achieves new milestones. Let me give you some more examples. Whenever I meet heads of government from other countries, they are eager to hear about the immense power of Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile. In a country where ATMs arrived much later compared to developed nations, how did India achieve global leadership in digital payments? Where leakage in government aid was accepted as bitter truth, how did India, through DBT, transfer 24 lakh crore rupees-twenty-four trillion rupees-to beneficiaries? India’s digital public infrastructure has today become a subject of global discussion.
Friends,
The world is astonished-how India where until 2014 nearly 30 million families lived in darkness, became one of the top countries in solar power capacity? How did India whose cities had no hope of improved public transport, become the third-largest metro network country in the world? How did India whose railways were known only for delays and slow speed achieve semi-high-speed connectivity with Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat?
Friends,
There was a time when India was only a consumer of new technology. Today, India is also a creator of new technology and is setting new standards. And this has happened because we recognized our own strength-the very strength within you are discussing is an example of this.
Friends,
When we move forward with pride, the way the world looks at us also changes. Remember, just a few years ago, how little global media discussed India’s events. Events in India were not given much importance. And today, see how every action of India is analyzed globally. The AI Summit is an example-it was held right here in this building. More than 100 countries participated. Whether Global North or Global South, all sat together at one table. From large corporations to small startups, all gathered together.
Friends,
In all the industrial revolutions so far, India and the entire Global South were only followers. But in this era of Artificial Intelligence, India is not only a participant in decisions but is also shaping them. Today we have our own AI startup ecosystem, the strength to invest in data centers, and we are working rapidly on the power most needed to store and process AI data. The reforms we have made in the nuclear power sector will also help strengthen India’s AI ecosystem.
Friends,
The organization of the AI Summit was a moment of pride for the whole of India. But unfortunately, the country’s oldest party tried to tarnish this celebration. In front of foreign guests, Congress did not just strip off clothes, but also exposed its ideological bankruptcy. When failure breeds despair and arrogance takes over, such thinking emerges that seeks to defame the nation. Clearly, Congress’s actions have angered the country. To justify its sin, they brought Mahatma Gandhi forward. Congress always does this-when it wants to hide its sins, it puts Bapu forward; when it wants to glorify itself, it gives all credit to one family.
Friends,
Congress has now reduced itself to a mere toolkit of opposition in the name of ideology. This mentality of blind opposition has grown so much that they do not miss any chance to belittle the nation on every stage, every platform. Whatever good happens for the country, whatever auspicious occurs, Congress only knows how to oppose.
Friends,
I have a long list-the new Parliament building was constructed, they opposed it. The lions of the Ashoka pillar atop Parliament-they opposed it. Those whose lions once ran away after eating ordinary citizens’ shoes, were frightened by the teeth of the Parliament’s lions. The Kartavya Path was built, they opposed it. The armed forces carried out surgical strikes, they opposed it. The Balakot air strike happened, they opposed it. Operation Sindoor was conducted, they opposed it. In short, for every achievement of the nation, Congress’s toolkit produces only one thing-opposition.
Friends,
The nation brought down the wall of Article 370, the country rejoiced. But Congress opposed it. We enacted the CAA law-they opposed it. We introduced the Women’s Reservation Bill-they opposed it. We brought a law against triple talaq-they opposed it. We launched UPI-they opposed it. We initiated the Swachh Bharat Mission-they opposed it. The country developed its own COVID vaccine, and even that they opposed.
Friends,
In a democracy, opposition does not mean blind resistance. In democracy, opposition means presenting an alternative vision. That is why the enlightened citizens of the country have been teaching Congress a lesson-not just today, but continuously for the past four decades. What I am about to say, I urge my media colleagues to analyze as well. You will see that Congress’s votes are not being stolen; rather, the people of the country no longer consider Congress worthy of their vote. And this decline began after 1984. In 1984, Congress received 39 percent of the vote and more than 400 seats. In subsequent elections, Congress’s vote share kept declining. And today, Congress’s condition is such that only four states remain where Congress has more than 50 legislators. Over the past 40 years, the number of young voters has increased, and Congress has steadily disappeared. Congress has become a club of people enslaved to one family. That is why first the millennials taught Congress a lesson, and now Gen Z is also ready.
Friends,
Congress and its allies have such a narrow mindset that they have even made long-term vision a crime. Today, when we talk about a developed India by 2047, some people ask-“Why talk about something so far ahead now?” Some even say, “Modi won’t be alive till then.” The truth is that nation-building never happens through short-term thinking. It happens through a grand vision, patience, and timely decisions. Let me present some facts before Network 18’s viewers. Every year, India spends more than 6 lakh crore rupees on freight through foreign ships. On fertilizer imports, we spend 2.25 lakh crore rupees annually. On petroleum imports, we spend 11 lakh crore rupees annually. That means, every year, trillions of rupees are flowing out of the country. If this investment had been directed towards self-reliance 20–25 years ago, today this capital would have been strengthening India’s infrastructure, research, industry, farmers, and youth. Today, our government is working with this very vision. To avoid paying 6 lakh crore rupees to foreign ships, Indian shipping and port infrastructure is being strengthened. To increase domestic fertilizer production, new plants are being set up, and nano-urea is being promoted. To reduce dependence on petroleum, ethanol blending, the Green Hydrogen Mission, solar energy, and electric mobility are being prioritized.
And friends,
We must take decisions today while keeping the future in mind. That is why India is building a semiconductor ecosystem. In defense production, mobile manufacturing, drone technology, the critical minerals sector, and investments therein-we are laying the foundation for economic security in the coming decades. The 2047 goal is not a political slogan. It is also a resolve to correct the historical mistakes where Congress governments failed to invest in time. Today, if we build indigenous ships, produce our own energy, and develop new technologies ourselves, then future generations will not discuss the burden of imports, but the capacity for exports. The progress of a nation is determined not by “today’s convenience” but by “tomorrow’s preparation.” And the hard work done with foresight is the foundation of a self-reliant, strong, and prosperous India in 2047. And no matter how many clothes Congress tears in protest, we will continue to work tirelessly.
Friends,
One very important condition of nation-building is sincerity of intent. Congress and its allies have failed even here. They have never worked with sincerity. They have no concern for the suffering of the poor. For example, in Bengal, the Ayushman Bharat scheme has still not been implemented. If there were sincerity, would they have blocked a scheme that provides free treatment up to 5 lakh rupees for the poor? No. You also know that under the PM Awas Yojana, permanent houses are being built for the poor. Let me give another figure to Network 18’s viewers. In Tamil Nadu, about 9.5 lakh permanent houses have been allocated for poor families-9.5 lakh. But construction of 3 lakh of these houses has stalled. Why? Because the DMK government is not showing interest in building these homes for the poor. And the reason is clear-their intent is not sincere.
Friends,
Let me also give you an example from the agriculture sector. During Congress’s time, farming was left to its fate. Small farmers were ignored, crop insurance was in shambles, the Swaminathan Committee’s report on MSP was buried in files. Congress made announcements in the budget, but nothing happened on the ground-because they lacked sincerity. We began working sincerely for the farmers of the country, and today the world is witnessing the results. Today, India is becoming one of the major agricultural exporters in the world. We have created a safety net for farmers at every level. Through the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, more than 4 lakh crore rupees have been deposited directly into farmers’ accounts. We set MSP at 1.5 times the cost and made record purchases. Let me give you just one figure-pulses. The UPA government, in 10 years, purchased only 6 lakh metric tons of pulses at MSP-6 lakh metric tons. Our government has already purchased about 170 lakh metric tons of pulses at MSP-nearly 30 times more. Now you decide who truly works for the farmers.
Friends,
The UPA government was also stingy in providing help to farmers through the Kisan Credit Card. In its 10 years, the UPA government gave 7 lakh crore rupees in agricultural loans-7 lakh crore rupees. Whereas our government has given four times more-28 lakh crore rupees. During UPA’s time, only 5 crore farmers benefited from this. Today, the number has more than doubled, reaching nearly 12 crore farmers. That means, for the first time, even small farmers have received help. Our government has also given farmers the protective shield of the PM Fasal Bima Yojana. Under this, about 2 lakh crore rupees have already been provided to farmers in times of crisis. Because we are working with sincerity, the confidence of India’s farmers is rising, their productivity is increasing, and their incomes are growing.
Friends,
A quarter of the 21st century has already passed. The next phase is the decisive period of India’s development. The decisions taken today will determine the direction of the future. We must move forward by recognizing and enhancing our strength. Every individual must aim for excellence in their field, every institution must make excellence its culture. We should not just produce products, but produce best-quality products. We should not just do routine work, but world-class work. We must convert capability into performance. As I said from the Red Fort-this is the time, the right time. This is the time to take India to new heights. Once again, my heartfelt congratulations and thanks to all of you. Namaskar.
