Elections aren't won on social media: Modi's swipe at Oppn

Asserting that the recent assembly poll results have made it clear that 'Modi's guarantee' resonates among people, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said some political parties do not understand that they would achieve nothing by making "false announcements".

In his remarks after interacting with the beneficiaries of the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra, Modi asserted that it is necessary to win people's hearts before winning elections and it is not right to underestimate people's wisdom.

"We have established a direct relationship, an emotional bond between the central government and people of the country. Our government is not a 'mai-baap' government but a government that serves mothers-fathers. The manner in which a child serves his parents, in the same way this Modi works to serve you," the prime minister said.

"Modi cares for the poor, the deprived whom nobody cares for and for whom the doors of offices were closed. Not only does he care for them but he worships them. For me, every poor is VIP, every mother, daughter, sister is VIP, every farmer is VIP, every youth is VIP," he said.

The recent assembly poll results have made it clear that 'Modi's guarantee' resonates among people who trust it, he said and thanked the electorate. People have faith that "Modi ki guarantee" means the guarantee of fulfilling all guarantees, he added.

"But the question is that why the country does not trust those opposed to us. Some political parties do not understand that they would not be able to achieve anything by making false announcements. Elections are won by going among the people, not on social media," the prime minister said.

"It is necessary to win people's hearts before winning elections. It is not right to underestimate people's wisdom. If some opposition parties had given primacy to serving people over their selfish political interests, then a big part of the population would not have lived in deprivation and hardships."

Had those who ran the government for decades worked with honesty, then the guarantees that Modi has to give now would have been fulfilled 50 years ago, the prime minister said.

The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra is being undertaken across the country with an aim of attaining the saturation of flagship schemes of the government by ensuring that benefits reach all targeted beneficiaries in a time-bound manner.

Modi said it is a matter of satisfaction that people's enthusiasm is increasing as the Yatra vehicles reach more and more places. Over 1.25 crore people have connected with "Modi ki guarantee" vehicles in a short time, he said, adding that nearly one lakh new beneficiaries of free cooking gas connection scheme have been added as well.

The prime minister said benefits of a permanent house, tapped water connection, toilet, free health treatment, ration, gas and electricity connection, and bank accounts have reached people across the country.

Crores of families in villages across the country have received the benefit of some scheme of the government without having to visit any government office again and again, he said.