I don't need to look into books to understand pain of poor, says PM Modi

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Narendra Modi on Saturday laid the foundation stone of Sant Ravidas Memorial in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, which will be constructed at a cost of '100 cr. He also inaugurated several other development projects.

Addressing the gathering, he highlighted the work done by his government, specially for the poor and people from scheduled castes (SCs), scheduled tribes (STs) and other backward classes. He said the memorial is steeped in the spirit of 'samrasta' (harmony) as the soil of more than 20,000 villages and 300 rivers has been used in it.BJP leaders had embarked on five yatras from five different parts of the state and travelled through more than 20,000 villages and 300 small or large rivers.

Soil was collected from all the villages and water was collected from the rivers to be taken to Sagar to be used in the memorial construction. The five yatras converged in Sagar on Saturday.

«These yatras mark a new era of social harmony,» said Modi. Quoting Sant Ravidas on social equality and availability of amenities for all, he said that in 'Amrit Kaal', the term used by the government to denote the 25 years between the 75th and 100th anniversary of Independence, the government is trying to eradicate poverty and hunger from the country.

«I know the pain of hunger and self-respect of the poor. I am a member of your family and I don't need to look into books to understand your pain,» he said.