Bommai credits Modi's human resource vision for India's development at Haveri event
Synopsis
At a BJP event in Haveri marking PM Modi's 25 years in public life, former Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai framed India's 140-crore population as Modi's greatest asset — not a demographic burden but a human resource base. Citing 25 crore out of poverty and 60 crore households with drinking water, Bommai's speech was as much a welfare scorecard as a political tribute.
Key Takeaways
Former Karnataka CM and BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai spoke at the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha in Haveri on 7 October 2026 .
Bommai credited PM Modi 's human resource approach for India's development, citing the PM's view of 140 crore citizens as his extended family.
25 crore people reportedly lifted out of poverty; over 4 crore rural families given housing under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana .
9 crore people given gas connections under Ujjwala Yojana ; 60 crore households provided drinking water under Jal Jeevan Mission .
Ayushman Bharat provides health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family.
Bommai quoted his Parliament retort to Supriya Sule on the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision: 'I may not be there in 2047, but this country will be.'
Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday, 7 October 2026, credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi's approach of transforming India's vast population into productive human resources as a central driver of the country's development. Bommai made the remarks at a party event in Haveri, Karnataka, praising Modi's 25-year political journey as a template for national service.
Event and Context
Bommai was speaking after inaugurating the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha and Seva Jyothi programme, organised by the BJP's Haveri district unit at Sri Veerabhadreshwara Kalyana Mantapa in Haveri. The event was held as part of a celebration marking PM Modi's 25 years of public service under the theme '25 Years of Public Service to Service of the Nation'. The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha, Bommai said, is primarily aimed at providing selfless service to the poor, the deprived, women, and every section of society.
Key Welfare Milestones Cited
Bommai highlighted several flagship welfare schemes under the Modi government, citing their scale as evidence of transformative governance. He noted that 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty, while more than 4 crore families in rural areas had received housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
Under the Ujjwala Yojana, gas connections had reportedly been extended to 9 crore people. The Jal Jeevan Mission had, according to Bommai, provided drinking water access to more than 60 crore households. The Ayushman Bharat scheme, he said, extended health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family to protect the poor from medical expenditure.
Population as Strength, Not Burden
Bommai recalled PM Modi's framing of India's population of over 140 crore not as a challenge but as a family he works for — a contrast, Bommai noted, to leaders who have historically focused on advocating smaller family sizes. This philosophy, he argued, underpins the inclusive outreach of schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Jal Jeevan Mission.
Parliament Exchange on Viksit Bharat
Bommai also recalled a notable exchange in Parliament on the Viksit Bharat vision. He said Rajya Sabha member Supriya Sule, daughter of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, had questioned the utility of setting goals for 2047 and suggested focusing on 2027 instead. Bommai responded: 'I told her that I may not be there in 2047, but this country will be there,' underlining his call for long-term national thinking over short-term political cycles.
Party Leaders Present
The event was attended by Rajya Sabha member M. Nagaraj, BJP Haveri district president Veerupakshappa Ballari, former MLA Shivaraj Sajjan, and party leaders including Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar, Dr Basavaraj Kelagar, Siddaraj Kalakoti, and Dr Shobha Nissimgoudra, along with presidents and office-bearers of various mandals in the district. Bommai concluded by calling on BJP workers to engage actively with people at the grassroots and contribute to the party's public service mission.
Point of View
And Karnataka — where the BJP is in opposition — is a particular target. The Supriya Sule anecdote is telling: Bommai's 2047 defence reveals a party that is increasingly comfortable anchoring its ambitions in timelines that extend well beyond electoral accountability.
NationPress
7 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha held in Haveri?
The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha is a BJP-organised programme aimed at publicising government welfare schemes and engaging citizens at the grassroots level. The Haveri event was held on 7 October 2026 as part of PM Modi's 25-years-of-public-service commemoration.
What welfare milestones did Basavaraj Bommai highlight in his speech?
Bommai cited 25 crore people lifted out of poverty, 4 crore rural housing units under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, 9 crore Ujjwala Yojana gas connections, 60 crore households with Jal Jeevan Mission water access, and Ayushman Bharat health coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family.
What did Bommai say about India's population in the context of development?
Bommai said PM Modi views India's 140 crore citizens as his family and works for all of them, framing the large population as a human resource and national strength rather than a liability. He contrasted this with leaders who have historically advocated smaller family sizes.
What was Bommai's response to Supriya Sule on the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision?
Supriya Sule, daughter of Sharad Pawar, had questioned the relevance of a 2047 goal and suggested focusing on 2027 instead. Bommai responded: 'I told her that I may not be there in 2047, but this country will be there,' arguing that national planning must transcend short political cycles.
Who attended the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sabha in Haveri?
The event was attended by Rajya Sabha member M. Nagaraj, BJP Haveri district president Veerupakshappa Ballari, former MLA Shivaraj Sajjan, and several party leaders including Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar, Dr Basavaraj Kelagar, Siddaraj Kalakoti, and Dr Shobha Nissimgoudra.
