Modi restoring 'pristine glory' of India: Badal

Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with launching several pro-poor schemes within a short span of about one year, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Saturday said that "it was just a beginning of restoring the pristine glory of the country".

Addressing a gathering after launching the prime minister's insurance and pension schemes, Badal said that no other government had initiated "such pro-people schemes in a short span of one year".

He added that the common man, who was neglected by previous governments, was benefitting from the schemes of the Modi government.

The Modi government assumed office May 26 last year after the National Democratic Alliance got a clear mandate in the April-May general election.

Badal's Shiromani Akali Dal, which is part of the NDA government at the centre, has been running an alliance government with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab since 2007.

Giving sole credit to Prime Minister Modi for "historic decisions", Badal said: "It is unprecedented in the history of Indian polity that a pro-poor initiative of such vast magnitude had been swiftly implemented with strong political will and determination.

"Modi has not only served the poor and needy of the country, but he has also enhanced the fame of India across the globe and I am hopeful in coming four years, he will free our country from every problem faced by poor, industry and even the farmers."

He said that the schemes of the Modi government would transform the country in coming years.

"These schemes are the brainchild of the prime minister to ameliorate the lot of poor and disadvantaged sections," the chief minister said, adding that Punjab had been sanctioned a number of projects in the past nearly one year.