India will develop only if Hindus stand united: Modi

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 29 (UNI) Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said India will develop only if Hindus stand united.

Addressing the ''Hindu Mahamela'' here, he said Hinduism had always taught that there was only one truth, even if people had different thoughts.

Citing environment degradation, he said ''our ancestors had taught not to over-exploit nature and save the environment from degradation. We should milk it, instead of over-exploiting it.'' Mr Modi claimed that the pro-Hindutva policies of his government had resulted in a fast pace development of Gujarat.

He said several path-breaking measures adopted by his government like cash award for intercaste marriage, security measures and rural development were replicated by other states.

''While thousands of farmers commit suicide in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and other states, no farmer had committed suicide in Gujarat,'' he claimed.

The inter-linking of 21 rivers in the state had helped the agriculture sector to achieve new heights. The revenue from agriculture had gone up to Rs 34,000 crore from Rs 9,00 crore following the initiative, he said.

Citing industrial sector, he said Gujarat had received investments to the tune of Rs 460,000 crore, generating 1.2 million new job opportunities.

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