With growing agitation in the some parts of the country seeking reservations for Dalits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured that reservation is here to stay for Dalits and the central government will work towards it.

Addressing a public meeting at the Codissia grounds in Coimbatore on Tuesday, Modi said that the opposition is merely trying to create issues over Dalit reservation in a futile attempt to bring a gap between him and Dalits. “Dalits are coming closer to the BJP. This has created a concern for the opposition, but the gap has been bridged already by the efforts of the government,” he said.

Claiming that the opposition is trying to instigate the Dalits against the government, Modi assured that the reservation is here to stay for Dalits. “Dalits will not be deprived of reservation in the NDA rule,” said the Prime Minister.

Modi also said that the central government has initiated efforts to celebrate the 125th birth anniversary of Dr.Ambedkar and a two-day debate has been scheduled in the Parliament. “We are going to introduce special stamp and the place where he breathed his last breath is going to be made a monument,” he said.

Praising the efforts of the central government, Modi said that the central government has increased FDI by 39 percent in the one and half years and created jobs for young people. “More than 65 percent of India’s population is below 35, and this is a bonus for our growth. Young minds should become entrepreneurs and contribute to the industrial sector,” he said.

Modi also said that the government is concerned about the workers and has been introducing schemes including Jan Dhan Yojana and Mudra Scheme that benefit the common man. “Two crore families have received loans of up to Rs.95,000 crore through Mudra Yojana and many benefitted through the Jan Dhan Yojana and Start up India Stand up scheme,” he said.

Modi also said that the central government has initiated solatium for farmers whose crops are destroyed; has decreased the premium amount to 2.5 percent for crop insurance; and increased the excise duty on small grains to reduce price.