Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 30 emphasized the crucial role of wealth creators in propelling India’s economic growth, stating that the entire world views the country with optimism. Addressing the inaugural session of ‘Journey Towards Viksit Bharat: A Post Union Budget 2024-25 Conference’ organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at Vigyan Bhawan, PM Modi asserted that the government’s priority is the nation and its people’s aspirations. He unequivocally stated, “Our government doesn’t lack political will—you are aware of that. For us, the nation and the aspirations of its people come first. I consider industry and the private sector a powerful force to make India Viksit Bharat. For me, wealth creators like you are an important driving force of India’s growth story. And I do not hesitate to say this from the ramparts of the Red Fort.” The Prime Minister’s remarks on the significance of wealth creators come against the backdrop of the INDIA bloc, led by the Leader of Opposition (Lok Sabha) Rahul Gandhi, accusing the ruling government of favoring industrialists, particularly Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani. Last week, Rahul Gandhi, Member of Parliament from Raebareli, criticized the Union Budget 2024 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on July 23, calling it a ‘kursi bachao’ budget that favors BJP allies and cronies. He wrote on X, “Kursi Bachao Budget. Appease Allies: Hollow promises to them at the cost of other states. Appease Cronies: Benefits to AA with no relief for the common Indian. Copy and Paste: Congress manifesto and previous budgets.” During his speech, PM Modi highlighted the global optimism surrounding India and the golden opportunity it presents for industries. He asserted that India is a key player in the global growth story and that its policies, decisions, and investments are contributing to global economic progress. “Today, India’s policies, decisions, and investments are part of the global growth story. World leaders are filled with positivity about India. This is a golden opportunity for our industry, and we should not miss this,” he said at the conference. PM Modi contrasted the current economic climate with the situation before 2014, when the BJP came to power at the center. He pointed out that while there were numerous budget announcements back then, they were not implemented on the ground. However, he asserted that his government has brought about a significant change in the last 10 years. He stated that India is currently the 5th largest economy in the world and is poised to become the third largest. The PM highlighted the substantial increase in the budget size to ₹ 48 lakh crore over the past 10 years, a threefold growth. He also mentioned that capital expenditure has increased more than fivefold to over ₹ 11.11 lakh crore during this period. Encouraging healthy competition among states, the Prime Minister urged them to create an investment-friendly environment, stating that he does not want any state to lag behind and wants investors to explore opportunities in every state. “Today, we are discussing ‘Journey towards Viksit Bharat ‘. This change is not just of sentiments but of confidence. Today, India is the 5th largest economy in the world, and soon, it will be the third largest economy, ” the PM said.
