Jharkhand poor despite riches, Rahul voices akashvani: Modi

Addressing a public rally in Ranchi, Modi also pointed out that Jharkhand, which is endowed with rich natural and human resources, has nevertheless remained poor despite 13 years of its existence. Modi said if a survey report was submitted to the leading economists of the world, they would certainly say that the state would have been among the most prosperous regions in the world, if the resources were properly utilised.

‘Why is Jharkhand is still poor and poverty is growing even though it has rich resources?’ Modi posed the question and then gave the answer himself. ‘I would say the party in whose hands the reins were since Independence should reply.’ He said that the people of the region had been demanding a separate state for a long time to determine their own destiny, but the ‘sultanate’ in Delhi did not hear them and rejected the demand.

‘It was former prime minister A B Vajpayee who understood the aspirations and dreams of the people of the region and created the state along with Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh,’ Modi said.

He attributed Chhattisgarh’s ‘success’ to the people’s desire for development and for the BJP. He said the next five years would be crucial for 

the state.