I am Prime Minister because of Ambedkar, our Govt is for the backward and the tribals : PM Modi

Modi, who was on a visit to Chhattisgarh's Maoist dominated Bastar region to inaugurate a string of welfare schemes, including India's first wellness centre "Ayushman Bharat"  on the birth anniversary of Dalilt icon B R Ambedkar, also assured development projects to Bijapur district.

Hailing BR Ambedkar's contribution for India,  Modi said, "If there is a Prime Minister  in India, it is because of Babasaheb's contributions."

Modi, who currently faces a countrywide unrest among Dalits protesting against the alleged dilution of the SC/ST Act,  asserted that his Government is committed to the dreams and aspirations of people from all sections of the society. "I have come here to remove the backward tag attached to Bijapur," he said

"Ambedkar was highly-educated. If he wanted, he could've lived a comfortable life. But he didn't do so. He studied abroad, but he came back to India and gave his life to serve the poor," Modi said.

Promising that the age-old backwardness of the Bastar region, a breeding ground for leftwing extremists, will transform drastically, the PM said, "Bastar is changing. In future, Bastar's identity will be that of an economic hub."

" Connectivity will be to Hyderabad, Visakapatnam, Ahmedabad. New Bastar will be that of new hopes. The day is not far when the sun will rise from the west in Chhattisgarh's Bastar," Narendra Modi told a gathering.

He also assured that Bijapur district will no longer remain backward. "If Bijapur can see development in 100 days then why can't the other districts witness the same? I came here to assure you that with all the development projects now Bijapur district will no longer be know as a backward district."

"This Government is for the poor, the needy, the downtrodden, the backward and the tribals," Modi said.

Modi, who inaugurated  various other programmes, including a dialysis centre at Bijapur Hospital and a Health and Wellness Centre, as part of the Ayushman Bharat scheme, said  efforts will be made to make major changes in primary health-related areas. "In every major panchayat of the country, sub centers and primary health centers will be developed as a health and wellness center in about 1.5 lakh places," he informed."

The Prime Minister stressed that the Government was working to develop the situation in the Naxal-affected Bastar district. "Naxals come from outside, not your region. Why are you giving them the authority to take over your children? The government is working so that your children get education, you get the right price for your crops and you live a respectable life," he said.

The PM is also set to dedicate the Bhanupratappur-Gudum Railway Line via video conference to the nation.

He will  flag off a train between Dalli Rajhara and Bhanupratappur.