Dehradun: Asserting that whoever he sides with secures power, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to another victory in the 2029 general elections.
Addressing a press conference here to mark the completion of 12 years of the Modi government in power, Athawale said the prime minister would serve for more than 25 years.
He later explained that his calculation included the 12 years Modi has already completed at the helm, meaning the prime minister will secure power again in 2029 and in 2034 as well. "People want Modi to stay in power," he added.
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He said in a democracy, the mandate lies with the people, referencing the constitutional principle of "one man, one vote, one value". Athawale, whose RPI (Athawale) is a constituent of NDA, then added with a chuckle that "whoever I side with secures power, which in turn brings me into government while sending the opposition out of power".
The minister also took a swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, mockingly congratulating him for becoming an "expert in daily criticism".
He expressed confidence that the opposition will remain in its current position after the next elections, as the NDA has no intention of stepping down.
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Athawale recalled that during his recent meeting with Prime Minister Modi, he presented a statue of Lord Buddha on behalf of his party. He told the prime minister that the world needs the teachings of Buddha and peace, rather than war.
Highlighting the secular approach of the NDA government, Athawale rejected allegations of bias, stating that the administration works equally for all communities, including Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, and Lingayats.
The Union minister underlined the central government's commitment to the development of Uttarakhand, mentioning that projects worth Rs 40,000 crore will come to the state in the financial year 2026-27. He noted that specific budgetary provisions have been made for eco-friendly mountain trekking initiatives across Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, alongside infrastructure and sailing improvements for the Char Dham routes, Rishikesh, and Haridwar.
On educational policies and employment, the minister said all universities under the University Grants Commission must strictly adhere to constitutional reservation quotas for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), and specially-abled students.
He emphasised that university admissions must reflect these prescribed percentages, pointing to the expansion of IITs, IIMs and medical colleges under the current government.
When asked about the lack of state minister status for RPI (Athawale) members in Uttarakhand, Athawale said such administrative appointments remain the sole prerogative of the chief minister and the BJP leadership, adding that his party's immediate focus is on expanding its organisational footprint across all districts and communities.
