Bhopal: Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned the public against being deceived by false promises made by Opposition parties. He urged people to be cautious of guarantees given by them, stating that they often come at a cost to the citizens.
"Beware of false guarantees given by the Opposition parties," Modi cautioned. He highlighted that promises of free electricity could lead to increased power tariffs, guarantees of employee pensions might result in irregular salary payments, and assurances of free bus rides could harm the transportation system.
He emphasised the underlying motive behind these guarantees, describing them as "evil intentions and a blow to the poor." Modi criticised family-based political parties, asserting that their primary focus was to promote the interests of dynastic leaders rather than the well-being of the common people.
Meanwhile, Modi inaugurated the National Sickle Cell Elimination Mission in Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, with the goal of eradicating sickle cell disease from the country by 2047.
Addressing a large gathering, Prime Minister Modi appealed for the cooperation of the people, particularly the tribal communities, in the government's mission to eliminate sickle cell disease. He emphasised the tremendous suffering endured by patients and their families due to this painful disease.
The mission aims to develop the necessary infrastructure to address the healthcare challenges posed by sickle cell disease, particularly among tribal populations. This includes establishing dedicated blood banks, strengthening bone marrow transplant facilities, and conducting widespread screening to detect the disease in its early stages. These measures will help prevent the disease from being passed on to future generations.
During his speech, Modi highlighted the significance of this pledge to save the lives of 2.5 lakh affected children and their families. He expressed disappointment that little attention had been given to combating the disease in the past seven decades, despite India having a significant number of sickle cell anaemia cases worldwide.
Modi underscored his government's commitment to the welfare of tribal communities, stating that they are not merely an electoral constituency but a matter of deep sensitivity and emotion. He recalled his efforts to uplift tribal communities since his tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat.
Further, Modi criticised previous governments for their insensitivity and disrespect towards tribal societies and the poor. He cited examples of the renaming of the Central tribal university and the Patal Pani railway station to honor tribal leaders, contrasting them with the actions of his government.
In addition to launching the mission, Modi distributed over 3.57 crore Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana cards digitally. The Ayushman card provides beneficiaries with up to ₹5 lakh for medical treatment in any hospital. He emphasised that this guarantee of financial assistance for the poor sets his government apart, and so far, five crore people have benefitted from the Ayushman scheme, resulting in savings of ₹1 lakh crore.
Modi concluded by paying tribute to Rani Durgavati, a 16th-century ruling Gond queen. He announced plans to commemorate her 500th birth anniversary through a film on her life, as well as the release of a silver coin and a postal stamp in her honour.
