Will not tread 'path of sin' to pursue development: Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attacked those questioning his government's performance, asserting it had launched over 700 schemes, and vowed to pursue development without treading the "path of sin" even if it meant some tasks remained undone.

Describing development as his "dream, path and destination", he pledged to root out middlemen from the system as he charged the previous government with having "yielded to the pressure from various lobbies".

"I may be asked 'why Modi doesn't do big things?'. Earlier governments have done big things, they did it for big people, they reaped big benefits out of it. Do I have to commit such a sin?" Modi asked, addressing a public meeting here as part of Vikas Parv (festival of development) on completion of his government's two years in office.

As the crowd shouted "no" in response, Modi said, "When people like you bless me and show affection towards me. I don't have to go on that path of sin. No matter if one or two works don't happen, but I will not let this country to go on the path of sin. This is my promise to you. In this journey of development, I want your help and cooperation. Development is my dream; development is my path; development is my destination; development is my aim; development is my strength; development is my inspiration; and on that basis, I want to take the nation to new heights and for this I need your help and cooperation and blessings."

Slamming critics who "started questioning my work" when he had not even seen his office or Parliament properly, Modi said his government's programmes were mostly for the benefit of the poor and farmers, beside ending the role of middlemen, including in jobs.

Speaking at New Delhi on Saturday, Modi had said a "change" had come in the past two years through good governance. He vowed to root out corruption and make life easier for the people who had been "looted" for years.

At an event, Ek Nayi Subah, held over nearly six hours to celebrate two years of the government, he recalled the scams and scandals during the previous governments.

Checking the menace of corruption was the focus of this government and people can see that, he said. Without naming the Congress, he accused the Opposition party of pursuing the agenda of obstructionism and expressed confidence that people can see through it and find truth.

"I am standing before people of the country with satisfaction. We have been able to get the trust and enthusiasm of people despite a very minute examination of our work. The trust of people is growing day by day. This also increases our confidence. I cannot say this about those for whom opposing us is necessary for political reasons. That is also natural. But I want to say one thing. On one hand there is the agenda of development (vikaswaad) and on the other hand is the agenda of obstructionsism (virodhvaad)."

On Sunday, he said people have now taken the task of ensuring a Congress-mukt Bharat (Congress-free India). "People of this country have taken the responsibility of making India Congress free, while my government has decided to make India free of middle men. We do not want middle men, it is they who have looted the poor and the country," he told the well-attended public meeting. "Middlemen have been stopped from getting richer. This is the change we have brought in. We have done the work of bringing more than 700 schemes in past two years."