Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that today India stands before the world not just as an emerging market, but as an emerging development model. Speaking at the sixth Ramnath Goenka Lecture in New Delhi, the Prime Minister underscored the strength of the Indian economy and the country’s self-reliance amid global uncertainties.
He stated that while the world is beset by instability and crises, India is confidently moving forward toward a bright future. Despite the crisis in Europe in 2022 and the deteriorating situation in West Asia in 2023, India’s economy has performed strongly. The Prime Minister pointed out that despite global fluctuations, India’s growth rate has remained around 7% this year, a testament to India’s economic stability.
Prime Minister Modi described the Bihar Assembly election results as historic, saying the state saw the highest voter turnout since 1951. He specifically noted that women’s participation was 9% higher than men’s, indicating the deepening influence of democracy.
The Prime Minister said that the people of Bihar have sent a clear message that they trust political parties that work honestly, prioritize development, and understand the aspirations of the people. He urged all states to learn from the Bihar election results and strengthen their development models.
The Prime Minister said that Bihar gave the RJD, led by Lalu Prasad Yadav, a chance for a long time, but the state went into anarchy instead of development. He said that whether the government is at the center or in the states—development should be the top priority.
Prime Minister Modi said that state governments should create a better investment climate, improve ease of doing business, and compete with each other on development standards. He said doing so would boost public confidence and accelerate the country’s progress.
The Prime Minister said that true social justice is that which delivers real benefits to the poor, the marginalized and the marginalized. He explained:
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12 crore toilets gave respect to the people.
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57 crore Jan Dhan accounts have brought into the economic fold those who were previously considered unbankable.
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4 crore pucca houses instilled new confidence in poor families.
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The scope of social security has increased from 25 crore to 94 crore people in 11 years.
Citing the example of Bastar in Chhattisgarh, the Prime Minister said that today that region is progressing on the path of development. He asked, “Which country disrespects its own language?” Citing the examples of Japan, China, and South Korea, he said that these countries embraced global modernity but did not compromise on their language.
He clarified that the government is not against English, but promoting Indian languages is the need of the hour – that is why local languages have been given priority in the new education policy.