Prime Minister Narendra Modi said Monday that democracy is not only thriving but also becoming increasingly stronger, and that people are voting for a stable government.
Inaugurating the three-day Rising Rajasthan Investment Summit, the Prime Minister said, “The power of democracy, demography, digital data, and delivery is evident from Bharat’s success. In a diverse country like Bharat, democracy is not only thriving but also becoming increasingly stronger, which is a significant achievement in itself.”
“While remaining democratic, Bharat’s philosophy is centred on the welfare of humanity, which is intrinsic to its character. Today, the people of Bharat, through their democratic rights, are voting for a stable government,” he said.
Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy CMs Diya Kumari and Prem Chand Bairwa, top industrialists, including Gautam Adani, Kumar Mangalam Birla, Anand Mahindra, and Anil Agarwal, among others, were also present on the occasion.
Emphasising the demographic dividend of the country, Modi said, “For many years to come, Bharat will remain one of the youngest countries in the world. Along with having the largest pool of young people, Bharat will also have the most skilled youth. To harness this potential, the government is making a series of strategic decisions.”
Today, every expert and investor around the world is highly optimistic about India, he said, adding that following the mantra of Reform-Perform-Transform, the country has achieved remarkable growth that is visible across all sectors.
Listing the achievements of his government, he said, “In the seven decades after Independence, Bharat could become the 11th largest economy in the world. In contrast, over the past 10 years, Bharat has moved from being the 10th largest economy to the 5th largest economy. During these 10 years, Bharat has nearly doubled the size of its economy.”
“Exports have also almost doubled in the past decade. Compared to the decade before 2014, Foreign Direct Investment has more than doubled in the past decade. Additionally, Bharat has increased its infrastructure spending from approximately 2 trillion rupees to 11 trillion rupees during this time,” he said.
Underlining global uncertainty, the Prime Minister said, “You are all familiar with the challenges related to global supply and value chains. Today, the world needs an economy that remains robust even in the face of major crises and operates without disruptions. For this, it is essential to establish a broad manufacturing base in Bharat. This is not just important for Bharat but also for the global economy. Recognizing this responsibility, Bharat has committed to self-reliance in manufacturing on a significant scale.”
Praising the Chief Minister, he said, “The people of Rajasthan have given a resounding mandate to the responsive and reformist BJP government here. In a very short span, Bhajan Lal ji and his entire team have demonstrated remarkable results.”
“The state government is also about to complete its first year soon. The efficiency and commitment with which Bhajan Lal ji is working for the rapid development of Rajasthan are truly commendable,” Modi said. “Whether it is the welfare of the poor, the well-being of farmers, creating new opportunities for youth, or ensuring roads, electricity, and water — all aspects of development are progressing rapidly in Rajasthan. The promptness with which the government is controlling crime and corruption has brought new enthusiasm among citizens and investors alike,” he said.
The Prime Minister also heaped praises on the people of Rajasthan. “In terms of area, Rajasthan is the largest state in Bharat, and the hearts of its people are just as vast. The hard work, honesty, determination to achieve even the toughest goals, the spirit of prioritizing the nation above all, and the inspiration to do anything for the country — these qualities are ingrained in every grain of Rajasthan’s soil,” he said.
“However, after Independence, the priorities of the governments were neither the development of the nation nor the preservation of its heritage, and Rajasthan has borne a significant brunt of this neglect. But today, our government is working with the mantra of both ‘Vikas’ (development) and ‘Virasat’ (heritage), and Rajasthan is reaping substantial benefits from it,” the Prime Minister said.
On the occasion, Chief Minister Sharma said his government has organised the summit in the first year itself so that all necessary steps can be taken properly and on time to implement the investment proposals received. He said that the state is hosting people from 32 countries as part of the summit, and even before the start of this summit, MoUs worth more than Rs 35 lakh crore have been signed.
He said that the state government is working with the aim of doubling the state’s economy in five years and hence, the summit is an important step in this direction, adding that the capital expenditure in the state budget has been increased by 65 per cent this year as compared to the previous year.