Modi: Neo-middle class emerged out of poverty

TWO DAYS AFTER he told the Lok Sabha that his government had lifted 25 crore people out of poverty, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said this had created a neo-middle class which was powering the pace of development in the country.

- NIKHIL GHANEKAR

Replying to the Rajya Sabha discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address, Modi said, "I believe in this country's poor... using government schemes, 25 crore people have come out of poverty. It is a matter of pride for them and also a matter of pride for us that we have helped them to come out of poverty. A neo-middle class has been created and my government is standing firm with this middle class. This class is powering the country's development."