Modi's Indirect Joke On Rahul Gandhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday took a subtle swipe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by highlighting the difference between political startups and business startups.

Without naming anyone, Mr Modi said, “Some in politics need to be repeatedly launched.”

Speaking after inaugurating the "Startup Mahakumbh" at Bharat Mandapam, Mr Modi said that many people launch startups. However, the number is much higher in politics, as some "have to be launched repeatedly".

“The startup ecosystem is experimental and moves on to a new one if a particular startup doesn't launch,” he said, contrasting them with the ones in politics.

Expressing satisfaction over the growth of the startup ecosystem in the country due to the right policies, the Prime Minister recalled the initial reluctance and indifference towards the concept of startups in society.

The Prime Minister noted that innovative ideas found a platform over a period of time under Startup India.

“Startup has become a social culture and no one can stop a social culture," he said.

The Prime Minister said that the startup revolution is being led by small cities and that too in a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, textiles, medicine, transport, space, yoga and ayurveda.

Talking about space startups, he said that Indian startups are working in more than 50 areas in the space sector, including the launch of the space shuttle.