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Jagat Prakash Nadda
Under the visionary leadership of our Pardhan Sevak and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji, India is moving forward with conviction and commitment on national and international fora to solve issues related to common people. Shri Narendra Modi ji is epitome of India’s faith and hope. The pledge with which the Bharatiya Janata Party was formed, the issues the party has been consistently vocal about and stood by since its inception, and the daunting tasks taken up by saintly figures like Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay and Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji saw light of the day due to untiring efforts of Modiji.
In fact, when Shri Narendra Modi took over as Prime Minister after his historic victory in 2014, the conditions were not very favorable in India. During the long tenure of the 10-year Congress-led UPA government, there was complete policy paralysis and organized loot of public fund and corruption in highest echelons of power. The benefits of the government policies were not reaching the people at the lowest rung of the society. It was not that the Congress had no knowledge of such harsh realities of the system functioning under its patronage and protection, but that the Congress government chose to remain silent and colluded with the middlemen. Perhaps, the real interest and welfare of the people was not among its priorities.
Poor decision making and lax leadership had made India’s position very vulnerable in the global world order. The world’s largest democracy was not receiving the respect and attention in accordance with its status in the comity of nations.
Even before he was sworn-in as Prime Minister on 26th May 2014, Shri Narendra Modi had chalked out a strategy to bring the world’s largest democracy into an effective role at the world stage. Accordingly, all the SAARC heads of states were invited to his swearing-in ceremony. Our relations with our neighbors were continuously on decline, but now each one us is aware about the efforts of the Prime Minister in making them normal and warm. In light of the immortal words of revered Atalji, ‘Friends can be changed, but neighbors cannot’, India not only made efforts to revive friendship with the neighbors, but the entire world is witness to the way India remains committed towards its relations with warmth and respect. On the decade old policy of Pakistan, Pakistan has seen India’s old way of dealing with it and new responses. Today, on the situation on the border with China, the country has unwavering faith in the leadership of Modiji. As a result, India’s effective and strong stand vis- a- vis can be seen, making it realize that India is now moving ahead with the self-confidence and self-respect and interests of citizens and nation cannot be compromised. Prime Minister Shri Modi has given this high morale to the country.
Earlier the sole aim of political parties was to remain permanently in power, but now one can witness a sea change in the polity of India. Coming out of the mindset of the vote bank and appeasement politics, the focus is now on nation’s holistic development and accountable governance where people are the nucleus and central aspect of all policies. Development policies are now need based, and not on the basis of region, class or individual aspirations. Abrogation of Article 370 got credence to the idea that all citizens and regions of the country are equal and to be treated equally. Our revered Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life on the altar for this idea. The dream of building a grand Shri Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was also made possible due to relentless efforts of the Modi government. The archaic custom of Triple Talaq was abolished for the welfare and up-liftment of Muslim sisters. Ever since independence the governments have kept governance apparatus in a straitjacket to serve their own interests but today the Modi government is writing a new chapter of development and inclusive growth by providing an accountable and responsive governance in the interest of common man.
The Prime Minister has always considered 1.3 billion Indians as an asset capable of changing the destiny of the country. Till now, the burgeoning population was considered the root cause of all problems plaguing the society, but the Prime Minister gave it a new perspective and took it as a challenge and started working on channelizing the energy of this vast available asset towards Nation building. Campaigns like Make in India, Start-up India proved to be a great employment generators in the country and reduced our dependence on imports of goods and services. This is the reason that citizenry gets inspired and energized with new hope and energy whenever Prime Minister addresses the nation. His inspiring campaign is to make a new India. His thinking and philosophy of touching every aspect of life makes him a symbol of trust in the country.
Coming from a humble background, Modi ji’s in-depth understanding of basic and ground rooted issues as a citizen are a permanent catalyst for his innovative thinking, which he emphasizes prominently in every plan, idea and programme. The common citizen facing the similar vagaries of life easily identifies himself with him.
The schemes and policies formulated for the poor are directly reaching their doorsteps. Basic needs of food, health, education, housing, employment are being addressed holistically by the Modi government. Expressing concern from the ramparts of the Red Fort on the essential but neglected topics like toilets, Modiji not only broke the traditional practice of making big announcements and flowery language but also assured the nation that the ground realities and common man’s requirements should find place in the nation’s address and exhibit our commitment and resolve towards the same. To think about the importance of the toilet in a woman’s personal life depicts his extreme sensitivity towards their cause by launching a nationwide programme to fulfill the daunting task of providing toilet to each and every household in the country. The arduous task of collection of firewood and its transportation on their head by women was a time-consuming affair and also posed health hazard due to its burning. The same was tackled by launch of Ujjwala scheme under which each household was given free access to gas connection. Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on strengthening the government’s scheme for girl education, their employment and creating a conducive environment for their overall welfare reflects how society is benefitted when a sensitive person occupies such positions in the service of the nation.
Novel Corona virus has affected the whole world including India impacting the society and adversely affecting every sphere of normal life. The unprecedented situation created by the pandemic was dealt with by the Indian government with a strong resolve. Arrangements were made to provide free ration to 80 crore people from March to November in the country. The Rs 1.70 lakh crore Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana was launched under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ fund of Rs 20 lakh crore announced to overcome the vagaries of pandemic. Pradhan Mantri Garib Rojgar Yojana was launched to provide employment to the poor. A provision of one lakh crore rupees was made to rebuild and strengthen the agricultural infrastructure. The Prime Minister gave a clarion call to fellow Indians to help in making India self-reliant by adopting and supporting the campaign ‘Vocal for Local’. Our health infrastructure was unable to cope with the severity of pandemic and we were also almost dependent on external resources for ventilators and even masks and sanitizers. We strengthened our health infrastructure during the lockdown period and the production of sanitizers and masks increased manifold and ended our dependence on imports. Today we are exporting PPE kits, masks and ventilators.
Prior to 2014, the whole country was entrenched deeply in corruption and policy paralysis, Prime Minister Modi not only pulled the country out of this distress but also infused positivity and vibrancy. During the last six years, the people have realized for the first time how a citizen centric government can work for the poor, how a decisive government can take the country forward and how a visionary government changes the world view towards the country.
The Bhartiya Janta Party with its millions and millions karyakartas commits to the mission of realizing the vision of our charismatic and people’s Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji to make India the world Guru.
(The writer is the National President of BJP)