-Dr Harsh Vardhan
At the very outset, I would like to congratulate the people of India for having placed
their love and faith in the leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
ji during the last eight years.
I am confident and I know that people’s faith in Modi Ji’s leadership is extremely strong
and unwavering. This love and faith emanates from the extraordinary work that he
has done for all sections of society. His exemplary captainship has given wings to the
dreams and aspirations of every citizen and instilled new confidence in them. Today,
it is this very power of faith of 135 crore Indians that is catapulting the nation forward
in every field.
In his eight years of governance, Modi Ji has always considered power as a medium
of Sewa. He has made herculean and unprecedented efforts to deliver due rights to
the poor, the farmers, our women and the underprivileged sections of society. It is
only because his policies are people-centric that people have renewed their faith in
democracy and have become participants in Modi Ji’s journey and vision of
development and progress of the country.
Many historical decisions have been taken during the last eight years by our
government, and these have made every Indian proud.
Abrogation of Article 370, Construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Free ration to
millions under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana, Free healthcare
under the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana, Vaccinating each
and every citizen during Covid time and Running the world’s largest vaccination drive,
Rescuing Indians from Afghanistan and Ukraine, Distributing direct benefits to
farmers under Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana,
Celebrating the unsung heroes of India’s freedom struggle through Azadi ka Amrit
Mahotsav etc are only some of the highlights other than the umpteen schemes we
launched for our armed forces welfare and for the welfare of our daughters and
womenfolk.
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For a country that was always counted as Third World, India has been transformed
into a global superpower only in the last eight years. We have achieved the feat of
the fastest growing economy in the world and maintained a low inflation rate as
compared to the previous ten years of UPA regime. India is well poised to become
the world's third largest economy by 2030.
Our average growth has shot beyond 8 per cent from the previous 6.7 per cent during
UPA’s time. While inflation used to hover around 9-10 per cent, today the average
inflation, despite Covid and the Russia-Ukraine war, has remained between 5.5% and
6.5%.
We pledged ‘Vikas’ as our mantra and developed infrastructure like never before and
at an unimaginable speed. We have spent Rs 91 lakh crore on infrastructure, capex
and social welfare. Including subsidies, we have spent a total of Rs 140 lakh crore.
During the unforeseen and troubled COVID time of two years, we provided free ration
to 80 crore people. We built Three crore houses and distributed more than Nine crore
cylinders to poor women. We introduced 9 crore new tap water connections. Over
Fifty crore people benefited from Ayushman Bharat, making it the world’s largest
healthcare programme. The entire world recognises the fact that India achieved a feat
of administering 192 crore Covid vaccines. We are moving ahead with the vision of
Universal Health For All. We believe in the doctrine of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The
World Is One Family), which is why we have delivered over 20 crore Make in India
Covid19 vaccines to 100 countries under the Vaccine Maitri programme
Under the financial inclusion schemes, we launched Jan Dhan Yojana whereby we
opened more than 44 crore new bank accounts. As per Finance Ministry, total balance
in over 44.23 crore PMJDY accounts stood at Rs 1,50,939.36 crore at December-
end, 2021.
Service, good governance and welfare of the poor are at the soul of the Modi
government. Recognize the fact that here is a Prime Minister who never took leave
from his work for a single day in the last eight years. He focused on our women, our
farmers and our underprivileged. Did we ever have such a responsible and pro-active
government at the center ?
India has transformed into a more responsible and responsive country ! These are
the words of every common man on the street, not just mine ! This story of change is
the sign of our progress. A hundred direct-to-beneficiary schemes are being
implemented today without any failure. They are closely monitored to ensure that the
poor and underprivileged classes reap the benefits, and there is no pilferage by
vested interests.
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We have taken Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji’s “Antyodaya” forward at a rapid
pace, concentrating on the last man in the queue. All our policies regarding the Nation
First have been appreciated by the people of India. It shows in each electoral result.
Today, the common citizen is euphoric about his country’s future. My two party
colleagues present here with me - Keshavpuram Zila Adhyaksh Shri Raj Kumar
Bhatia ji and Chandni Chowk Zila Adhyaksh Shri Vikesh Sethi ji - can narrate to you
how there are lakhs of beneficiaries of PM schemes in Chandni Chowk parliamentary
constituency itself. The lives of these economically backward citizens have been
metamorphosed with the benefits that have accrued to them under these programs
launched in the last eight years.
In the 70 years of the previous government, 6.37 lakh primary schools were built by
the education department. In the tenure of just eight years of the Modi government,
6.53 lakh primary schools have been built. We are moving ahead with the vision of
Universal Education.
The Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana has been appreciated globally. In the coronavirus
pandemic, we were widely applauded as we focused on healthcare as well as the
economic problems arising out of the pandemic.
For two years, about 80 crore poor people are being given five kg of free ration. The
way India has kept the stoves burning in the poor households continuously for months
during the pandemic was an astonishing phenomenon for the world. There is no
dispute that fewer people have been infected in India as compared to other countries
and it is also true that in comparison to the population of other countries of the world,
we with a population of 1.35 billion still managed to save more citizens in India.
Our citizens are proud as we took historic decisions regarding the Ram Temple and
for the work we have already done and are doing in Kashi, the Mahabharat Circuit,
the Ramayan circuit, the revival of Kedarnath, the development of Somnath and other
pilgrimage projects. We have done some credible work in developing places related
to the life of Dr BR Ambedkar such as Panch Tirth. India took an emotional decision
to commemorate August 14 as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day” in the memory
of victims of Partition. That was a bold move to recognize all the unsung heroes to
whom we owe our freedom and recall the torture of what we went through during
Partition.
Many historic agreements related to the hitherto ignored region of North East have
been signed by the Modi government. We have brought the northeastern eight states
into the mainstream. Unlike any other former Prime Minister, Modi ji has visited the
northeast about tens of times.
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Hon’ble Prime Minister‘s focus on Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwas
and now Sabka Prayas has taken development and prosperity to all 739 districts
of the country. Archaic laws have been replaced and several long pending
institutional reforms implemented. The mantra of minimum government
maximum governance has produced tangible results and empowered millions
at grassroot level. Our government has been successful in delivering benefits
to millions through digital means.
Under the PM Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana being implemented, the government
is taking care of the nominal expenses of the small farmers. So far, more than
1.5 lakh crores have been deposited directly into the bank accounts of more
than 11 crore farmer families. The small farmer has become the nation's pride.
Our dream is to increase the collective power of the small farmers of the country.
We are committed to working in that direction.
Friends,
Modi Ji’s vision is to make India a great super power and this marks a new
epoch in Indian foreign policy, when our country’s weight and preferences will
determine outcomes in the global system. His call for India to become a leading
power represents a change in how the country’s top political leadership
conceives of its role in international politics. His cultural diplomacy and the
attention he has paid personally to the Indian diaspora everywhere, has
inculcated in them a sense of overwhelming pride in their country of origin.
Indians overseas are proud of their country of origin today.
Whether it is standing up on the northern borders or deterring terrorism on the
west, we have obtained international support and understanding. Projecting
India on the global stage has taken centrestage. Is that not a proud moment for
all of us ?
Whether one likes to hear it or not, it was Shri Narendra Modi who pulled the
country out from an atmosphere of disappointment and catapulted it onto a path
of confidence and progress. Good governance, corruption free nation and
sustainable development are hallmarks of his leadership style. His
commitment, devotion, dedication, decisiveness and sewa bhaav have given
India a new identity. Thanks to him, India transformed into New India, an India
we all dreamt of !!
