Narendra Modi launches LPG-for-poor scheme in Uttar Pradesh

LUCKNOW: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched Ujjwala Yojana, a scheme to provide free LPG connections to 5 crore poor families over the next three years, from Ballia in the poll-bound Uttar Pradesh.

However, he made it clear that the scheme was not the start of BJP’s poll campaign and Ballia was chosen for its very low LPG connection density. “Some people are not in politics but they see politics in everything. They have unfortunately said that I will blow the poll bugle from Ballia through this program. But it is not so, it is the people who will blow the poll bugle not me. I have recently attended programs in Jharkhand and Haryana where there are no elections happening.

I started the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao program from Haryana, which does not go to polls. Haryana was chosen as it has a very low female ratio. Similarly, Ballia that has LPG connection for 8 out of every 100 families was chosen for low LPG penetration base.”

However, Modi did take pot shots at his political rivals saying no past government’s at the Centre has given so much to UP as his government. “We have been allocating huge funds for UP, which is much larger than what previous governments did. ”