NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took a sharp jibe at the Congress, saying that those with “zero seats” may struggle to count the zeros in Rs 32 lakh crore given as loans under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana to support micro and small enterprises.
His comments come in the backdrop of the Congress’ dismal performance in the Delhi assembly elections, where it failed to win a single seat for the third consecutive time, while the BJP secured a decisive victory.
Addressing a gathering at the launch of the Surat Food Security Saturation Campaign in Gujarat, PM Modi highlighted how the government has extended Rs 32 lakh crore in loans under Mudra, a flagship scheme introduced in 2015 to provide affordable credit to small businesses.
“We have disbursed Rs 32 lakh crore as loans to poor citizens under the Mudra scheme so far. Those who abuse us, those with zero seats, may not even be able to count the zeros in Rs 32 lakh crore,” he remarked.
The PM also reiterated the Centre’s income tax exemption up to Rs 12 lakh — proposed in the Union Budget 2025-26 — as a major relief for salaried individuals, small business owners and workers.
On the issue of food security, he lauded the newly launched Surat Food Security Campaign, calling it an “inspiration for other districts” to ensure better nutrition and tackle malnutrition and anemia.
PM Modi further emphasised how the government streamlined the Public Distribution System (PDS) by eliminating five crore bogus ration cards, ensuring that food subsidies reach the genuinely needy.