PM hands govt houses in Maha, gets emotional

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that putting India on the list of top three global economies and ensuring the upliftment of the poor through welfare is a "Modi guarantee", underlining that his government was inspired by Lord Ram's principles of governance and making a pitch for his party ahead of this year's general elections.

MUMBAI: Modi was speaking in Solapur town in Maharashtra, days ahead of the January 22 consecration ceremony at the Ram temple, a landmark event that will fulfil one of the Bharatiya Janata Party's core ideological promises and will likely be a key part of the party's manifesto for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

"Putting India on the list of top three global economies is a Modi guarantee and I will achieve the goal with your blessings in my third term," he said.

During a ceremony at Kumbcontinued hari in Solapur on Friday,Modi dedicated 90,000 houses built under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna (PMAY) in Maharashtra. He also handed over keys to houses in the RAYNagar Housing Society to 15,000 beneficiaries, which included workers from the textile and unorganised sectors, such as beedi workers and rag pickers. 

In a choked voice, the PM said he wished he had had the opportunity to stay in such houses when he was young. “Happiness comes when people’s dreams come true. Their blessings are my biggest investment,” he said.