New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said his government was taking states on board for development of the country, asserting that India can move ahead only on the “strong shoulders” of the states and not from Delhi alone.
“India is not going to progress from Delhi,” Modi said while delivering the inaugural address at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit here.
Citing various measures taken by his government like setting up special departments for states at the Centre in taking them along, Modi said the states have the most “important role” in India’s progress.
“States have the most important role in India’s progress. India can move ahead only on the strong shoulders of the states and not from Delhi alone. If we walk together shoulder to shoulder then results will automatically come,” he said.
Modi said it is important that the world knows about our states and their strengths.
During his 40-minute speech that was laced with humour, the prime minister also said that a decisive mandate given to his party in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections was crucial to the country’s progress.
Having a stable Government is a very big thing and this can’t be ignored. Fractured mandates always have uncertainty,” he said, adding, there was “despondency” all over before his government took over office in May last year. Talking about the measures being taken by his government to push development in states, especially the eastern region, Modi said the Centre had recently sanctioned two major plants for manufacturing railway engines in Bihar.
He added lightheartedly that the decision was taken after the assembly election in state. BJP had there suffered a big defeat in the hands of Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance.
Modi said there was no dearth of good ideas in the country but their efficient execution was necessary for success and he was focusing on this.
The prime minister spoke about various initiatives taken by his government, including promoting LED lights in 100 cities, targeted subsidies and changing work culture in the public sector to turn it around, to push development and save money. (PTI)
