Highlighting the government’s commitment to promoting millets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored that whereas millets were once overlooked, India has now demonstrated their significance as a ‘superfood’ with growing international appeal.
He further expressed that the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections are not merely about electing a MP but also about rejuvenating the ‘Viksit Bharat’ campaign with renewed vigor.
Addressing a public meeting in Rajasthan’s Karauli, PM Modi said, “The result of June 4 is clearly visible here in Karauli. It is saying ‘4 June 400 paar’ and the whole Rajasthan is saying ‘Phir ek baar Modi Sarkar’.”
“The Lok Sabha election of 2024 is not just limited to choosing the MP. It is an election to provide new energy to the Vikshit Bharat campaign,” he added.
Underscoring Rajasthan’s significant contribution as a major producer of ‘Shree Anna’ (millets), the Prime Minister underscored the global recognition that millets are currently enjoying. He also reminisced about how meals prepared with millets were featured at the state banquet during his visit to the White House, highlighting their increasing prominence.
“Rajasthan is much ahead in producing ‘Shree Anna’ like jowar, bajra…Earlier, no one paid heed to the farmers producing ‘coarse grain’. We carried out the Millet Mission and showed the world that our millet is a ‘superfood’. Today, it is recognised as ‘Shree Anna’ and its demand is rising globally,” PM Modi said.
“Last year, in the White House, US President (Joe Biden) had invited me. A huge banquet was organised, which had an all-vegetarian menu, and even included our coarse grain,” he added.
Significantly, at the urging of PM Modi, the United Nations declared 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’, further emphasizing their importance on a global scale.
In addition, he took a swipe at the Congress party for neglecting the concerns of the underprivileged, pointing out that millions of people are now reaping the benefits of central government initiatives such as Kisan Samman Nidhi and Ujjwala.
PM Modi also emphasized that it is the first time a government has implemented free vaccinations for cattle and livestock, underlining the significance of this initiative.
“In the last 10 years, the BJP brought solutions to those problems on which the Congress had given up. Congress gave the slogan of ‘Gareebi Hatao’ for decades but Modi brought 25 crore of Indians out of poverty. Congress left farmers on their own but the BJP government is working to make farmers prosperous. Today 10 crore farmers are receiving Kisan Samman Nidhi,” PM Modi said.
“It is for the first time that any government has been concerned for cattle too. In Rajasthan, domesticated animals of more than 80,000 farmers have been given free vaccinations,” he further said.
Rajasthan sends 25 MPs to the Lok Sabha. The polling is scheduled to take place in two phases on April 19 and 26. The counting of votes will occur on June 4.
In 2014, the BJP secured victory in all 25 seats in the state. Similarly, in 2019, the BJP-led alliance clinched all 25 seats, with the BJP winning 24 of them.