PM-LD DALITS 2 LAST

While slamming those targeting him for atrocities against While slamming those targeting him for atrocities againstdalits, the Prime Minister said, "let us understand that lawand order is a State subject and we should not blame Modi foreverything… Some people are conspiring to selectively blameme. Whatever is their intention, it hurts the nation." He said statistics show that the incidents of communalviolence, atrocities on dalits and atrocities on tribals arelesser during his government as compared to previousgovernment. "But it is not the issue as to what happened inyour govermenet and my governemnt. It does not behove oursociety," Modi added. "The nation is convinced that our plank is onlydevelopment but those people who never wanted to see such agovernment or who did not want the previous governemnt to go,they have a problem," Modi said. "Development is our plank. It is not because of politicsbut it is my conviction," the Prime Minister said. To a question on poverty alleviation, he said "it hasbeen a political slogan" and there has been a lot of politicsin the name of the poor. "I do not want to comment as to whether it was good orbad. But my approach is different. To eradicate poverty, weneed to empower the poor and only they can end their poverty.To keep the poor in that state, there can be politics but toeradicate poverty, we need to empower them. Education andemployment is essential in this regard. Eonomic empowerment isessential," he said. He talked about schemes launched by his government forthe upflitment of the poor. Asked how much crucial was peace for the country’seconomic progress, Modi said "well-being, peace and harmony"are essential in life and in the society. "Even if a family is very prosperous, there is a need forpeace, unity and harmony in that," he said, adding he wascommitted to this end. PTI SKC AKKAKK