Solar-powered boats launched at Varanasi for plying on river Ganga: PM Modi's top 10 quotes

 Varanasi: Accusing the erstwhile Congress governments of pursuing "vote bank politics", Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took potshots at Nehru-Gandhi family and reached out to the numerically significant Nishad community in Uttar Pradesh as he launched solar-powered boats for plying on river Ganga.

Following are PM Modi's top ten quotes at the event:

"India has launched seven satellites to augment the GPS system. With the kind of politics going on in our country and massive work being done, it came to our mind that let's name it (the solar-powered boat project) after Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay or Shayma Prasad Mukherjee (the RSS icons)."

"You have already seen how many schemes are named after one family. We also felt tempted to name the project after those who belonged to us. But this Modi is made of a different stuff. I named it Naavik (boatman). I did not name it after any of my family members or any leader. I have given a name, which gives immortality to the fishermen community."

 "Unfortunately politics in our country took a direction in which policies were always made to strengthen vote bank. The focus was that the vote bank should remain strong, irrespective of whether the poor, the citizens of the country, get empowered or not or the country is strengthened or not."

"Earlier when something was talked about our Nishad brothers, the price of diesel was brought down by one rupee or so in the hope that they will cast their vote in favour. But we have made schemes, which empower the poor to fight and defeat the poverty themselves. We are working in that direction."

"E-boats will help bring down pollution, ensure higher incomes for those who earn their livelihoods through such boats."

"This nation, our government and our banks, they are all for the poor."

"Our experience during Jan Dhan Yojana brought out the richness of the poor. And it is really satisfying to work day and night for the poor."

"Steps taken by Centre are fully devoted to freeing poor from the clutches of poverty and making them self-sufficient."

"Through Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, we asked banks to give loans without guarantee as this country is for poor, banks are for poor."

"There was a time when a MP used to get 25 gas coupons, and people used to queue up outside their house to ask for gas connections. They (previous government) used to give 25 gas connections, we decided that we'll provide gas connections to over 5 crore families in 3 years"