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Prabhat Jha
On 30 May 2020, the NDA government at the Center, headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is completing one year of its second term. In the first term, while the government has ensured the initiatives taken reaches the door of the last person in the last line of society, it has also succeeded in laying a strong foundation to make this decade India’s decade and this century India’s century. Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, a step was taken towards the creation of a ‘New India’. We have witnessed a quantum change in thinking of the world regarding India. The NDA won a historic victory under the leadership of Shri Narendra Modi on 23 May 2019 as a result of the public confidence generated by ‘Sabka Sath-Sabka Vikas’. With immense public support, on 30 May 2019, Shri Narendra Modi took the oath of Prime Minister for second time.
While the initial months of the first year of the second term have been dedicated to the ideology by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, and now uniting the entire nation together in the past few months against the challenges arising from the global pandemic Corona. The PM turned this crises into an opportunity by taking bold steps which has attracted the attention of the whole world. This one year has emerged as a landmark for India which is full of achievements and challenges.
After independence, the policy of appeasement and arbitrariness brought many problems to the nation. A major problem was the provision of Sections 370 and 35A in the Constitution for the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Due to Article 370, Kashmir problem became a challenger to Indian national unity and a center of terrorism moving away from the mainstream of nation and development. Those who have been in the leadership of the country, their indifference to nationalism paid a heavy price. 41,849 people have been martyred in Jammu and Kashmir including Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, the first president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh. But the work which was not done in the last 70 years, was done by the Modi government within 70 days of its second term. The government proved that nationalism and national unity were paramount for it by passing a bill removing Articles 370 and 35A from the Constitution with a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament. As Union Territories of India, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have embarked on a new path of democracy and development.
This diversity and unity makes India unique in the world. It is the responsibility and duty of every government to strengthen this unity. As far as the Modi government is concerned, in the first term May 2014 to May 2019 and first year of the second term from May 2019 to May 2020, many steps have been taken to strengthen the national unity ‘One Nation – One Tax’, ‘One Nation – One Mobility Card’, ‘One Nation – One Fast Tag’, ‘One Country – One Constitution’ and ‘One Nation – One Ration Card’ in this era of global epidemic corona today . The feeling of national unity and Indianness is unprecedented in the country today. The Modi government has done the work of bringing the country out of the narrowness of regionalism uniting the entire nation together.
While the NDA government headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi worked with the motto of ‘Sabka Saath – Sabka Vikas’ in the first term, in the second term, ‘Sabka Saath – Sabka Vikas – Sabka Viswas’. Free gas connections to 8 crore poor, 2 crore houses for the poor, bank accounts of about 38 crore poor, 50 crore people got free treatment facility up to Rs 5 lakh, insurance cover to 24 crore people, more than 2.5 crore people got free electricity connection provided with complete transparency and without discrimination. Discrimination against women employees has been eliminated by bringing salary code. While ‘Pradhan Mantri Laghu Trader Maandhan Yojana 2019’ has been approved so that small traders now avail minimum pension of Rs 3000 after attaining 60 years of age. All the farmers were brought under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Yojana. The Ministry of Jal Shakti was set up to provide clean water to all and to comprehensively address water related issues.
A law against Triple Talaq was enacted by the NDA government at the Center under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to give Muslim mothers and sisters their rights within ten weeks of their second term. The Muslim Women Marriage Protection Protection Bill-2019 was passed by the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. From August 1, 2019, instant Triple Talaq became a legal offense in the country. Over 8 crore Muslim women of the country got the much awaited justice. Also, while the POCSO Act was amended to protect child rights, the rights of bisexual persons were approved, taking historic steps towards social justice.
The government built the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor in record time and dedicated it to the nation on the occasion of the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It is a privilege for the country to get the opportunity to celebrate the 550th Prakash Parv of Guru Nanak Dev Ji with full respect in the country and in the entire the world. It was pleasant that in the divine atmosphere of the inauguration of Kartarpur Sahib Corridor on 9 November 2019, the Supreme Court of the country gave a historic verdict on the issue of Ramjanmabhoomi. The verdict of the Supreme Court marked the end of centuries of Hindu-Muslim bitterness and paved the way for Ramandir construction.
In 1989, at its session in Palampur, the Bharatiya Janata Party passed resolution supporting the building a grand temple at the Sri Ram Janmabhoomi in Ayodhya and remained fully committed to it. Shri LK Advani also took out a rath yatra from Somnath to Ayodhya for this cause. After the verdict of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Union Cabinet held a meeting headed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 5 February 2020, to discuss issues related to Shri Ram Temple as per the order of the Supreme Court, was prepared. As per the orders of the Supreme Court, a resolution was passed to establish an autonomous trust ‘Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Tirath Kshetra’. The Trust is working in Ayodhya at the birthplace of Lord Shri Ram fully independent to take decisions on the construction Grand and divine Shri Ram Temple. Right after 31 years, the promise made by the Bharatiya Janata Party to the country is being fulfilled. Excavation and construction work have started at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi site and the construction of the temple will be completed as soon as possible. At the same time, according to the instructions of the Supreme Court, the Sunni Waqf Board has been given five acres of land in Ayodhya for the construction of the mosque.
In his second term, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has proved his mettle by solving the Bodo problem and enacting the Citizenship Amendment Act. The Union Government and the Assam Government, led by Shri Narendra Modi, have recently entered into a historic agreement with the Bodo organizations to end the 50-year Bodo problem. With this agreement, such a complex problem, in which more than 4 thousand people died, has been solved. Another such historic agreement between Tripura, Mizoram, and the central government got formalised. The aggrement has not only solved the decades-old problem, but has also ensured a safe life for thousands of Bru- Reang tribe.
In the atmosphere created after partition, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi had said that ‘Hindus and Sikhs of Pakistan, who do not want to live there, can come to India. It is the duty of the Government of India to provide them a normal life.” It was our responsibility to honor that wish of our nation builder. This was also the call of humanity. The NDA government, led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, within one year of its second term, enacted a citizenship amendment law, liberated minorities from the Muslim country of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh and freed them from exploitation. This law also entitled these minorties to obtain Indian Citizenship with an ease.
The entire world, including India, is today in a critical situation due to the ill effects of the corona global epidemic. But under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is moving ahead with the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Campaign’ to turn this moment of challenge into an opportunity. ‘Atmanirbhar’ is the core concept of Bharatiya Janata Party ideology. Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya had said that India’s economic success is in the culture-oriented economy, whose foundation is self-reliance. On 12 May 2020, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi said in his address that ‘As a nation today we stand at a very important juncture. Such a big disaster has brought a signal to India… has brought a message… has brought an opportunity. India’s fundamental thinking has become a ray of hope for the world. The culture of India, the tradition of India, speak of the Idea whose soul is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. ‘He has called on Indians to become self-sufficient. For this, ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign’ has also been announced.
An economic package of Rs 20 lakh crores has also been announced for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Campaign’, which is about 10 percent of the country’s GDP. As the Prime Minister said, ‘This economic package is for that labourer of the country, for that farmer of the country who is working day and night for the countrymen in every situation, every season, it is for the middle class of the country, which are honestly pays its taxes, contributes to the development of the country, it is for the Indian industry which is determined to give a boost to India’s economic power.
‘Provision of Rs. 3 lakh crore loan for 4 years without guarantee for micro, small and medium industries sector is announced. 20 thousand crore rupees have been given to micro, small and medium industries trapped in the crisis. 90 thousand crore rupees have been given to correct the situation of the distressed power distribution companies. It has been decided to give loans of 4 lakh crores to small farmers at concessional rates. During the lockdown (March-April), 63 lakh loans were sanctioned for the agricultural sector, amounting to Rs 86,600 crore. Interest waiver has been given on farmers’ loans till 31 May 2020. Rs 11,000 crore has been provided to the urban poor. A provision of Rs 4200 crore has been made for rural infrastructure. Migrant laborers are being registered under MNREGA. The minimum wage in MNREGA has already been increased from 182 to 202 rupees. 2 percent discount has been given in the interest of borrowers of Mudra Shishu loan. A loan of up to 10 thousand rupees has been arranged for street vendors.
The biggest achievement of the year during the Corona Global Pandemic by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is to unite 130 crore people of the country and stand with the world and give the message of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ to the world. The leadership that Shri Narendra Modi has shown in fighting the epidemic and managing people around him, was seen earlier in Mahatma Gandhi. Preparation of lockdown-1 with Janata curfew, preparing the nation’s mood for lockdown-2 with the national unity by lighting the lamp, and then implementing lockdown-3 in a controlled manner be done. But this work can only be done with the help of divine power. This divine power is rested in Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. During this time, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has emerged as a world leader by addressing the virtual conference of Non-Aligned countries and leading the virtual conference of G-20 countries. The world has appreciated his indomitable courage and amazing power to turn challenge into opportunity. The World Health Organization has handed over the chairmanship of the Executive Board in the hands of Dr. Harsh Vardhan, a senior aide of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s cabinet and Union Health and Family Minister. The future lies in the hands of the Indian leadership, today it is the message of the whole world.
(The writer is BJP National Vice President and former MP)