Bareilly, Feb 28 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said he dreams of seeing farmers' income getting doubled by 2022 when the country completes 75 years of its independence.
Addressing a big gathering of farmers during a 'Kisan Rally' here, Modi highlighted various initiatives undertaken by his government for their welfare.
Stating that while most of the governments wait for the election year to roll out welfare schemes and incentives for farmers, Modi said it was not the case with his National Democratic Alliance government.
"Farmers look towards governments after God and it is imperative on us to ensure that the farmers are looked after well," the prime minister said.
"I exhort all state governments that they should work on the road map before them and I am sure that my dream and your dream will succeed," he added.
Elaborating on his dream, Modi said by 2022 when India completes 75 years of its independence the income of the farmers would be doubled. He then asked farmers whether his dream would be realised.
Modi said it was not a very difficult target.
Citing the example of Madhya Pradesh, a Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled state, he said though it did not figure in the top five states of agriculture, now there was a complete turnaround in the agriculture sector.
The prime minister said he had not come here to criticise any government.
"But I want everyone to be on the same page on the issue of farmer welfare," he said in an apparent dig on the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh.
The prime minister also described the service, manufacturing and agriculture sectors as the backbone of the Indian economy.
