Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched 17 projects and schemes worth ₹1,723 crore for Delhi on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 75th birthday on Wednesday. Mr. Shah said the Prime Minister has provided the Capital more than its due, regardless of the party governing Delhi.

The 17 projects include 101 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, five new blocks in existing hospitals, and 150 dialysis centres, expected to boost the city's healthcare infrastructure. The other initiatives include monthly financial assistance of ₹6,000 for persons with severe disabilities and the addition of 50,000 new beneficiaries to the Old Age Financial Assistance Scheme.

"For 24 years, he [Mr. Modi] has thought about the country's development and worked for the welfare of the poor, because of which, we [India] have become the fourth largest economy in the world. By 2027, we will become the third biggest economy," said the senior BJP leader.

Addressing an event organised by the Delhi government at the Thyagaraj Stadium, Mr. Shah reiterated the Prime Minister's "vocal for local" pitch. "The time has come for every Indian citizen to take a pledge to buy only the products made in India. Only then can the dream of a prosperous India be achieved," said the Home Minister.

Hitting out at the Opposition parties, Mr. Shah said the previous Aam Aadmi Party government had "discriminated against Delhi" and had not implemented the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

He termed the recent 'Voter Adhikar Yatra' in poll-bound Bihar, led by Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, a "Ghuspathiya bachao [protect infiltrators] yatra".

Shah unveils projects worth ₹1,723 crore for city on PM's birthday