Good steps taken by govt get caught in colour of politics: PM

It is the country’s “misfortune” that many good things brought with good intentions get trapped in politics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Sunday, as he cited development work undertaken by his government.
Modi’s comments about “good things brought with good intentions” getting trapped in politics also come at a time when his government’s Agnipath scheme, a radical overhaul of the process of soldiers’ recruitment in the armed forces, has triggered protests in different parts of the country.
Without mentioning the stir, Modi, during his speech after the inauguration of the Pragati Maidan main tunnel, said “it is the misfortune of our country that many good things, things done with good purpose, get caught in the color of politics”. Modi cited a number of initiatives, including Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, more than doubling of metro tracks in Delhi-NCR and the Delhi-Meerut highway among other projects, as steps taken by his government to solve the region’s problems.
“It is our country’s misfortune that many good things brought with good intentions get trapped in political colours. Media also gets dragged into it due to its TRP compulsions,” Modi said, adding that the construction of the Central Vista project and the new Parliament building is going on at a fast pace now.
“India’s capital will be talked about in the coming days and every Indian will be proud,” he said.
Modi was referring to last year’s inauguration of the defence complex, which he noted earlier operated out of dilapidated hutments spread across a vast stretch of land near Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The central vista project, a massive revamp exercise in the heart of India’s seat of power, had drawn protests from a section of activists and opposition parties that went to court. The Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor had also faced some protests.
Even as the Opposition parties are demanding the roll back of Agnipath scheme, the ruling BJP has been strongly defending it.
The prime minister, however, made no direct reference to the scheme in his speech which was largely focused on the infrastructure and development work his government has been doing for the Delhi-NCR region.
While moving through the Pragati Maidan main tunnel to look at it, Modi was also seen picking up some litter, highlighting his commitment to ‘Swachh Bharat’.
He noted that the project will help save 55 lakh litres of fuel and cut down pollution, adding that his government looks at increasing urbanisation as an opportunity and has been working to boost ease of living for the people.
The inauguration of the 1.6-km-long tunnel, which will be Delhi’s first, will allow commuters travelling to India Gate and other central Delhi areas from east Delhi, Noida and Ghaziabad to ditch traffic snarls at ITO, Mathura Road and Bhairon Marg, and thereby save time, fuel and money.
“Time is money,” Modi said, adding that it makes headlines if the government announces Rs 100 for people but if Rs 200 is saved, it is not talked about much.
The Pragati Maidan Integrated Transit Corridor project has been built at a cost of more than Rs 920 crore and is entirely funded by the central government.
It is aimed at providing hassle-free and smooth access to the new world-class exhibition and convention centre being developed at Pragati Maidan to facilitate easy participation of exhibitors and visitors in the programmes being held there.
Union ministers Piyush Goyal, Hardeep Singh Puri, Som Prakash, Anupriya Patel and Kaushal Kishore were among those present on the occasion.