London: PM Modi says, Indians have become more aspirational under his rule

Agencies
April 19, 2018

London, Apr 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said days of incremental change are over and Indians have become more aspirational under the BJP-led government at the Centre, taking a dig at the previous governments and their governance of making people dependent on the state.

Modi also said that people have more expectations from his government because they know that it can deliver.

"People know that when they say something, the Government will listen and do it. Days of incremental change are over," Prime Minister Modi said while speaking at the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' programme at the iconic Central Hall Westminster here.

Responding to a series of questions moderated by Prasoon Joshi, the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification, Prime Minister Modi said he was not born with an aim to be in history books.

Slamming his detractors, Modi said his problem is not against criticism.

"To criticise, one has to research and find proper facts. Sadly, it does not happen now. What happens instead is allegations," Modi said in his more than 2-hour long interaction. 

"I want this Government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong. Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism," he added. 

Modi said earlier the government was centred around a family but people have shown that in democracy even a tea seller can become their representative and shake hands at the royal palace.

Noting that there is a big difference between 'then and now ', Modi said, "when the policy is clear, the intention is clear, and the intentions are noble, then you can achieve the desired result."

Responding to a question, Prime Minister Modi said impatience is not a bad thing. "If a person has a cycle, a person aspires a scooter. If a person has a scooter, a person aspires a car. It is natural to aspire. India is getting increasingly aspirational," he said. 

"Earlier, people had adopted a 'chalta hai' attitude but now they have high expectations from us," Modi said, adding that the 125 crore people of India now feel the excitement, hope and expectation. 

"If you will see where we stand in comparison to the previous government, I can affirm that we left no stone unturned in doing good for the country on any parameter," he added. 

"You all must have seen that the power of your passport has increased. People look at you with pride. India is still is the same. But today we can see a difference. Indian has managed to do this & now people know the power of India," Modi said, comparing his government's achievements with that of his predecessors. 

He asked what prevented Indian Prime Ministers from going to Israel, referring to previous governments' policy of avoiding a highest-level visit to the Jewish state. 

"Yes, I will go to Israel and I will even go to Palestine," said Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to travel to both Israel and Palestine in two separate visits. 

"I will further cooperation with Saudi Arabia and for the energy needs of India I will also engage with Iran," Modi said, referring to the two Middle East oil-rich power centres who are at odds with each other. 

He also warned Pakistan and said India will not tolerate those who export terror and will respond to them in the language they understand, referring to the 2016 surgical strikes conducted across the LoC. 

"When someone has put a terror export factory in place and makes attempts to attack us from the back, Modi knows how to answer in the same language," he said, amid applause. 

"We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted," he asserted. 

Invoking the father of the nation, Modi said that during the freedom struggle Mahatma Gandhi did something very different and he turned the freedom struggle into a mass movement.

"He told every person that whatever you are doing will contribute to India's freedom. Today, the need of the hour is to make development a mass movement," the prime minister said, adding that he was determined to bring about a positive change in the lives of India's poor. 

On recent incidents of rapes of minor girls in the country, Modi expressed grief and called it an evil of not just the individual but also of the society.

Terming it as a matter of concern, he said, "we always ask our daughters about what they are doing, where they are going. We must ask our sons too. The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son. He has a mother too in his house." 

When asked whether he can change the country alone, Modi said he was an ordinary citizen just like any other Indian.

"We have a million problems but we have a billion solutions," he said.

"I can make mistakes but I will not do any work with ill intention," Prime Minister Modi said.

Responding to a question on Modicare, he said his government was working for the health of every Indian.

"Our focus is on three things - education for students, employment for youth and medicines for the elderly," he said, adding that the 'Ayushman Bharat' health care scheme will cover more than 10 crore poor families providing them coverage of up to 5 lakh rupees per family annually.

Modi also lauded the 12th-century Lingayat philosopher Basaveshwara and said he dedicated his life to the people and worked to unite them.

"Basweshwar did for women empowerment, democracy and social causes is an example for the world," Modi said. 

Comments

AS
 - 
Thursday, 19 Apr 2018

So far none of the prime minister has got such feku certificate... Entire world laughing at india coz of his Fekugiri.. He is thinking he is over smart. There is one proverb. Vidye illadavanu pashuvige samana but dont want to compare even animals to him.

wellwisher
 - 
Thursday, 19 Apr 2018

Again Feku giri never improve  or the tail will become straight. Only bhatks and desh drohi rss family's benifited.

SK Mumbai
 - 
Thursday, 19 Apr 2018

Let feku answer the following questions:

Where are 100 smart cities in 5 years?
What is the status of providing 2 crore jobs per year for our youth?
Why have Fuel and Food prices skyrocketed?
Why has 'Make in India' collapsed?
Why has 'Skill India' failed?
Why did BJP allow Mallya, Nirav and Lalit Modi to escape?
Why are Farmers still committing suicide due to debts and no support?
Why has ill-planned GST ruined small and medium-sized traders?
Why was Demonetization a DISASTER?
Why has the Foreign Policy with China, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Pak failed?
Why hasn't black money (Rs.15 lakhs per person) been brought back to India?
Why have right-wing hooligans taken over law & order?
Why is BJP shielding its rapist ministers, Aseemanand, Maya Kodnani, Babu Bajrangi?
Why is there a shortage of cash across the country?

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Agencies
July 21,2020

The Retailers Association of India (RAI) has said that ad hoc lockdowns by state governments are impacting the businesses of already-stressed retailers, along with hurting the economic revival of the country.

In a statement, the body of the organised retail industry said that the long road to recovery for the Indian retail industry continues to meet stumbling blocks with numerous restrictions being imposed at the state and local levels.

"Total lockdowns in some places and limited operational hours and days in several others are creating setbacks for retailers as the already stressed retail businesses are getting further interrupted and in turn, dampening consumer sentiment," it said.

According to RAI, although the intentions are that of citizen safety and social distancing, the recent instances of local lockdowns and ad hoc restrictions being imposed in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka are having a distressing impact on retail businesses.

Retailers are already facing huge setbacks in terms of payment of wages and rentals due to very low sales of about 40 per cent as compared to last year, thanks to the extended lockdown, it said.

Contesting the restrictions on operating hours, Sandeep Kataria, CEO, Bata India said: "Restricted shopping time can lead to unnecessary overcrowding of stores, which is unfavourable towards the personal safety of both store staff and customers. Longer operational hours will support recovery for retailers as well as help adhering to social distancing norms."

Arvind Mediratta, MD and CEO, METRO Cash & Carry India said that these lockdowns will create severe inconvenience for all citizens as they also bar operations of food and grocery retail and wholesale stores.

Such hastily-implemented decisions by states undermine investor confidence and would come in the way of making the country "aatmanirbhar" or self-reliant, he said.

Voicing the concerns of retailers, the RAI has submitted representations to various state and local authorities that puts forth recommendations to get businesses and life of consumers on the track to recovery.

It has said that authorities should mandatorily allow essential shops including kiranas, general trade shops, supermarkets, hypermarkets and wholesalers to operate every day of the week until 9 p.m. to cater to the daily needs of the customers.

It has also sought ensuring uniform and regular opening of all categories of retail for full working hours while following stringent hygiene practices and adhering to social distancing norms. This will help avoid overcrowding outside stores as demand will get distributed over all days of the week, it said.

The industry body has also asked the local authorities to open malls in all states. Malls can ensure a safe shopping experience wherein safety measures are taken by both, the mall authorities and the retailers, it said.

Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO, RAI, said: "The need of the hour is concerted efforts by all stakeholders. While retailers are doing their bit by following stringent hygiene practices, the policymakers too need to support to ensure economic revival across the country. Consumption is important for the country and supports the business environment."

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News Network
January 6,2020

Dubai/Washington, Jan 6: Tens of thousands of Iranians thronged the streets of Tehran on Monday for the funeral of Quds Force commander Qassim Suleimani who was killed in a US air strike last week and his daughter said his death would bring a "dark day" for the United States.

"Crazy Trump, don't think that everything is over with my father's martyrdom," Zeinab Suleimani said in her address broadcast on state television after US President Donald Trump ordered Friday's strike that killed the top Iranian general.

Iran has promised to avenge the killing of Qassim Suleimani, the architect of Iran's drive to extend its influence across the region and a national hero among many Iranians, even many of those who did not consider themselves devoted supporters of the Islamic Republic's clerical rulers.

The scale of the crowds in Tehran shown on television mirrored the masses that gathered in 1989 for the funeral of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

In response to Iran's warnings, Trump has threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites, including cultural targets, if Tehran attacks Americans or US assets, deepening a crisis that has heightened fears of a major Middle East conflagration.

The coffins of the Iranian general and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was also killed in Friday's attack on Baghdad airport, were passed across the heads of mourners massed in central Tehran, many of them chanting "Death to America".

One of the Islamic Republic's major regional goals, namely to drive US forces out of neighbouring Iraq, came a step closer on Sunday when the Iraqi parliament backed a recommendation by the prime minister for all foreign troops to be ordered out.

"Despite the internal and external difficulties that we might face, it remains best for Iraq on principle and practically," said Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November amid anti-government protests.

Iraq's rival Shi'ite leaders, including ones opposed to Iranian influence, have united since Friday's attack in calling for the expulsion of US troops.

Esmail Qaani, the new head of the Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guards' unit in charge of activities abroad, said Iran would continue Suleimani's path and said "the only compensation for us would be to remove America from the region."

ALLIES AT FUNERAL

Prayers at Suleimani's funeral in Tehran, which will later move to his southern home city of Kerman, were led by Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Suleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran behind Khamenei.

The funeral was attended by some of Iran's allies in the region, including Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Palestinian group Hamas who said: "I declare that the martyred commander Suleimani is a martyr of Jerusalem."

Adding to tensions, Iran said it was taking another step back from commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers, a pact from which the United States withdrew in 2018.

Washington has since imposed tough sanctions on Iran, describing its policy as "maximum pressure" and saying it wanted to drive down Iranian oil exports - the main source of government revenues - to zero.

Talking to reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Washington from Florida on Sunday, Trump stood by his remarks to include cultural sites on his list of potential targets, despite drawing criticism from US politicians.

"They're allowed to kill our people. They're allowed to torture and maim our people. They're allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we're not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn't work that way," Trump said.

Democratic critics of the Republican president have said Trump was reckless in authorizing the strike, and some said his comments about targeting cultural sites amounted to threats to commit war crimes. Many asked why Soleimani, long seen as a threat by US authorities, had to be killed now.

Republicans in the US Congress have generally backed Trump's move.

Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said that if US troops were required to leave the country, Iraq's government would have to pay Washington for the cost of a "very extraordinarily expensive" air base there.

He said if Iraq asked US forces to leave on an unfriendly basis, "we will charge them sanctions like they've never seen before ever. It'll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame."

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News Network
March 11,2020

New Delhi, Mar 11: According to the Union health ministry, there are 62 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country.

The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought the stand of the Centre and the Delhi government on a PIL seeking proper and adequate measures to combat coronavirus.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar issued notice to the Ministry of Health and the Delhi government seeking their replies on the public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an advocate.

The petition, by lawyer Triveni Potekar, seeks directions to the Centre and the Delhi government to make available important and relevant information on access to and availability of medical facilities for testing and treatment for the coronavirus disease.

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