PM Modi Takes A Dig At Bureaucrats, Compares Journey Of A File To 'Char Dham Yatra'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a meeting of his council of ministers on Wednesday, spoke about issues concerning Cabinet members and took a sly dig at bureaucrats. The prime minister, in his 40-minute-long speech, told his cabinet colleagues that the pace of development in his third term would continue the same way it had in the first two terms.

Taking a jibe at the bureaucrats, PM Modi said that a lot of work done by the government also depends on paperwork and the files exchanging several hands and on many occasions, the delay is caused because of bureaucratic challenges. Typical of his style, the prime minister compared the journey of a file to that of ‘Char Dham Yatra’ stating that getting a file processed is sometimes even more difficult than the latter.

“Char Dham yatra ke baad humein toh moksh mil jaata hai, par files ko 16 dham yatra ke baad bhi moksh nahi milta (The cycle of life and death can end after undertaking the four location Pilgrimage, but there is no salvation sight for files that have travelled for more than 15 locations or desks),” PM Modi said, News18 has learnt.

The prime minister has, on multiple occasions, encouraged the bureaucracy to act like agents of change and work at the same pace to match the pace of the government in power.

On Wednesday, PM Modi held a review meeting to see the progress of Seven key projects spread across 11 states and Union Territories worth over Rs 76 5000 crore. A press statement issued by the PMO stressed the need for the timely completion of projects.

“Every official in the government, at Central or State level, must be sensitized about the fact that delay in projects not only leads to cost escalation but also deprives the public of the intended benefits of the project,” the prime minister is said to have told officials in the PRAGATI meeting.

During the council of ministers meeting, the outgoing cabinet secretary, Rajiv Gauba showcased an elaborate presentation on the work done by the government since coming to power for the third time in a row. A detailed presentation was also made by bureaucrats on the budget announcements, infra projects and education and health matters.