Improved roads key to overall development, says Prime Minister Modi at Kaithal rally

Thanking the people of Haryana for showering their affection on him, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he would return this gesture with a promise of record development.

"After we formed the government, this is my first programme in Haryana. I thank you for your affection. I will repay all your affection with record development," he said after laying the foundation stone of a four-lane highway at the Kaithal-Rajasthan border.

Speaking specifically about improving the road network, the prime minister said, "When roads improve, development also increases. A nation that gives impetus to infrastructure, be it roads, railways and airports, that is where chances of development increase."

Likening roads to arteries present in the human body, the prime minister added, "Like we have arteries in our bodies, we have roads in our country, they act as arteries."

Prime Minister Modi laid specific thrust on building a lasting infrastructure for the country.

"We cannot do with infrastructure of the last century. Any contractor comes makes a road and it gets destroyed during the monsoon...this won't do.," he added.

"Connecting Haryana to Rajasthan is not only about cars passing one way from the other. It is good for commerce," he said that the new highway would usher in development both in Haryana and Rajasthan.

The Prime Minister also expressed his happiness over visiting the home state of Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

He also batted for freeing the nation from corruption.

"'Mera Kya' (What's in it for me) and 'Mujhe Kya' (Why should I care)...this has ruined the nation. We need to free the nation from corruption. This menace of corruption is so dangerous...it can destroy the nation. And I can see that the nation can't bear injustice any longer," he said.

He also held out hope to complete all central schemes, he said.

He said, "some Central schemes that had to be completed have not. I assure that we will try to ensure they are completed."

"Be it the state or the central government, let us work together for the development of Haryana," he added.