‘I will serve people till my last breath’: PM Modi responds to Kharge's remarks

New Delhi: In a firm reaction to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge's remarks "Modi ka baap bhi jayega", Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Friday that he is not leaving public service and will continue to work for the welfare of the people till his last breath.

Addressing a gathering at Banaskantha in Gujarat, the PM alleged that the Opposition always rejoices when the country faces any crisis. He underlined that farmers, youth and women were working towards building a developed India, but some people were uncomfortable with the country's progress.

The PM was addressing a gathering after inaugurating the Bharat Bovine Breeding and Research Centre at Bhildi town in Gujarat's Banaskantha district.


"I will continue to serve people till my last breath," Modi, who turned 76 in September, said. The PM also released the 24th instalment of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) scheme, which provides ₹6,000 per year in income support to eligible farmers.

Without taking any names, he said, "There are those who wish to see the country in distress - they actually derive pleasure when the nation faces hardship. Whenever a crisis befalls the country, they find joy in it."

Referring to the conflict in the Gulf region, which is critical to India's energy security and serves as a key source of fertiliser imports, Modi said while the country was united in addressing the situation arising out of the war, some people were spreading rumours and creating panic among people. "They sowed fear among farmers, claiming fertilisers would become unavailable. They created artificial queues and created a sense of panic," alleged Modi.

The PM accused the Opposition of trying to create chaos across the country to defame him, alleging people were being led to believe that cooking gas would no longer be available due to the conflict which started in February. "They also tried to frighten women, claiming that cooking gas would no longer be available and asking, 'How will you cook your meals? How will your children go to school?' Their plan was to incite chaos across the country, all in an attempt to defame Modi."

"I had promised that Modi would stand firmly by your side. And look - even though the conflict continues, Modi has ensured that there is no shortage of fertilisers for our farmers," the prime minister said.

Modi said global fertiliser prices and the costs of chemicals required to manufacture them had surged due to the war, but the government had ensured that the additional burden did not fall on cultivators.

"Globally, a bag of urea costs as much as ₹3,000, yet Indian farmers receive it for less than ₹300. The government took this entire burden on itself to ensure the bag reaches you (farmers) at just ₹300," he said.

Similarly, while the global price of a bag of diammonium phosphate fertiliser had crossed ₹5,000, Indian farmers were receiving it for ₹1,350, he added.