The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today wished the people on the occasion of sacred Rath Yatra of Mahaprabhu Jagannath.

Shri Modi posted on X:

“Greetings on the start of the sacred Rath Yatra. We bow to Mahaprabhu Jagannath and pray that His blessings constantly remain upon us.”

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah inaugurated the Amin PJKP Vidhyarthi Bhavan in Ahmedabad, Gujarat today. Many dignitaries including Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel were present on the occasion.

Shri Amit Shah also inaugurated the modern multispecialty SLiMS Hospital in Ahmedabad.

Earlier, Shri Amit Shah performed Mangala Aarti at the Sri Jagannath Temple in Ahmedabad.

In a post on X platform, Union Home Minister extended his heartfelt wishes to the countrymen on the occasion of Mahaprabhu Jagannath Ji’s Rath Yatra. He said, “Mahaprabhu Jagannath’s Rath Yatra is an auspicious occasion to preserve the Indian cultural heritage and prosperity and to provide new advancement, which is celebrated with utmost devotion by crores of devotees of the country. This Yatra is a symbol that Indian culture is dynamic in nature and celebrations and spirituality are its characteristics. I extend my heartfelt wishes to all the countrymen on Mahaprabhu’s Rath Yatra and pray to Mahaprabhu Jagannath, Veer Balabhadra and Mata Subhadra for everyone’s welfare and progress.”

After the inauguration of Amin PJKP Vidhyarthi Bhavan, Shri Amit Shah said that if an institution has completed its 100 years of establishment, then it can be said that the institution enjoyed the support of the entire society, only then it has been able to complete 100 years. He said that this institution has continuously spread the lamp of knowledge in the lives of thousands of children for 92 years and this hostel has given many personalities who served Gujarat and the country. He told the students that no matter how many difficulties come in life, if you face them with smile and determination, all difficulties will go away on their own.

Union Home Minister said that this institution has produced many good citizens who have contributed to the development of Gujarat. He said that where we are all sitting today, Sardar Patel had once spent his days and held many meetings during the freedom movement. He said that every place has its own culture and the connect with the land inculcate those cultural values in us. Shri Shah said that the students coming here should always remember that a great personality like Sardar Patel had made a huge contribution from here for the freedom movement. He said that the students of today’s generation do not need to sacrifice their lives for the country but they need to live for the country. He asked the students that whatever they do in their life, they should do it for the country. He said that we should possess the passion of working for the country throughout our life.

Shri Amit Shah said that about 1000 students will study in this Vidhyarthi Bhavan for higher education. He said that students from areas where there is no facility of higher education will also be able to come here and study, which will enlighten their lives. He said that the Kadva Patel community has contributed a lot to the development of Gujarat. Shri Shah said that if we look at the graph of development of Gujarat and Patel community, both are moving forward in parallel. He said that along with the development of Patel community, Gujarat has also developed. He said that Patel community is a hard-working community, which has qualities like education, business mind, courage and moving forward by uniting the society, which have taken the entire Patel community, especially the Kadva Patidar community, very far ahead. He said that this community has contributed a lot to the development of Gujarat and the country while developing itself as well as the society.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that all the students coming here are very fortunate that they have got the opportunity to study at a historical place. He said that it is the right of every person to think for his own welfare and be in pursuit of their happiness, but it will be good for the society if one chooses such a path for one’s own welfare which will also benefit other people. Shri Shah said that students must set a goal in their life and it is very important to make efforts to achieve it. He said that it is important to work hard in life to achieve the goal but one should never adopt shortcuts.

Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare and Chemicals & Fertilizers Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, visited the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) Vijaypur in Jammu today. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Science & Technology; Ministry of Earth Sciences; Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions; Department of Atomic Energy and Space, Shri Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha and Member of Institute Body, AIIMS Jammu; Shri Gulam Ali Khatana, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion Shri Nadda said that “under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, not just health, but every sector has experienced immense growth”. He added that “Shri Narendra Modi has brought a new wave of comprehensive development into Jammu & Kashmir, advancing the state towards prosperity and growth”.

The Union Health Minister emphasized that it is important to foster collaborative synergy among various branches of medical sciences. He added that both allopathy and Ayurveda possess distinct significance and strengths, complementing each other to enhance healthcare outcomes.

Addressing the Faculty, Residents, Staff and Students of AIIMS Jammu, Shri Nadda encouraged the faculty to persist in their pursuit of knowledge, service and research. The Minister commended their dedication and hard work, emphasizing the importance of continued excellence and innovation in healthcare and education.

He remarked, “AIIMS Jammu is an institution that embodies the aspirations and dreams of countless individuals. It’s a beacon of hope not only for the people of J&K, but also for that of Leh, and other neighboring states like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh”. He assured all the possible help and support to the institution in ensuring better healthcare access for millions. He emphasized that skill & talent should never be compromised and exalted the faculty to work tirelessly to develop an “AIIMS culture which is an amalgam of selflessness, dedication, competency, integrity, innovation and trust.

The Union Minister along with other dignitaries visited various facilities including the Digital Library with e-books, e-journals apart from hard copies of books & professional journals. The distinguished features showcased at the library included carrels for research work, state-of-the-art digital dashboard, automated book issue and deposit device and the RFID security gate at the entrance of the Digital Library.

The Union Health Minister also visited the modern Lecture Theatres for student with state-of-the-art Smart Boards, special features of which were demonstrated to the dignitaries. He expressed his happiness that AIIMS Jammu is incorporating technology advancements in pedagogy at AIIMS Jammu.

The Minister also inspected the Outpatient Department (OPD), including the registration counters and “Indoor Navigation System” for patients.

During the visit, the Union Health Minister observed the world-class facilities and services available to the people of Jammu & Kashmir. He said that with its skilled doctors and aspiring medical professionals, AIIMS Vijaypur is set to enhance healthcare facilities in the region.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi spoke with Rt. Hon. Keir Starmer, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom today.

Prime Minister congratulated him on assuming charge as Prime Minister of UK and a remarkable victory of the Labour Party in the election.

Both leaders recalled the historic relations between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen and advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and the UK. The two leaders agreed to work towards early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK Free Trade Agreement.

Appreciating the positive contributions of the Indian community in the social, economic and political development of the UK, the two sides agreed to continue to promote closed people to people ties.

Prime Minister Modi extended invitation to PM Starmer for an early visit to India.

Both leaders agreed to remain in touch.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addressed the ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity through Cooperation) program organized on the occasion of 102^nd International Day of Cooperatives in Gandhinagar, Gujarat today. Many dignitaries including Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, and Secretary, Ministry of Cooperation were present on the occasion.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that today is the birth anniversary of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and we owe to him for making Bengal and Kashmir integral parts of India today. He said that it was Dr. Mukherjee who led the movement against having two legislations, two heads at the top and two flags in one country and sacrificed his life fighting for this cause. Shri Shah said that today under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi the duality of having two legislations (Vidhan), two heads at the top (Pradhan) and two flags (Nishaan) has ended in Kashmir and the tricolour is flying there high with great pride. He said that today is also the death anniversary of Babu Jagjivan Ram ji, who initiated and took forward many development programs for the Dalits of the country and laid the foundation of social harmony and opposed religious conversion.

The Union Minister of Cooperation said that today is a very important day in many ways for all the people and workers associated with the cooperative sector. He said that on this day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had established an independent Ministry of Cooperation. He said that previous governments never paid heed to the demand of a separate Cooperation Ministry. He said that Shri Narendra Modi, who comes from the land of Gujarat, after becoming the Prime Minister, established an independent Ministry of Cooperation by understanding the need for cooperation in today’s time.

Shri Amit Shah said that today the Government of Gujarat has taken a very important decision and announced a subsidy of 50 percent on Nano-Urea and Nano-DAP. He thanked the Gujarat government for the decision and said that farmers need to spray Nano-Urea only once and that there is no need to add Urea to the fields later during the crop’s growth. Shri Shah said that spraying Nano-Urea and Nano-DAP in the field is sufficient for increased production and will also save the soil. He said that the Modi government has made them cheaper and farmers should use them. He said that the Government of India has established National Cooperative Organic Limited (NCOL) to promote organic products and ensure fair price for their produce to farmers practising organic farming. Shri Shah said that today Bharat Organic Atta has also been launched by NCOL. Shri Shah said that Amul has also launched a shop of Organic products in Delhi. He said that both Bharat Organic and Amul are reliable and 100 percent organic brands. Shri Shah said that the Bharat brand stamp is put on organic products only after testing them using the world’s most modern technology.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that cooperation is not a new idea in India and our forefathers had adopted this 125 years old idea. He said that many great personalities like Sardar Patel, Mahatma Gandhi, Gadgil ji, Vaikunthbhai Mehta and Tribhuvandas Patel started it. He said that a time came when this idea started weakening gradually. Shri Shah said that Prime Minister Modi established a new and independent Ministry of Cooperation recognizing the relevance of cooperation. He said that today we are at an important juncture and the 125 years old cooperative movement is making a big contribution in various areas of the country. He said that the cooperative sector is contributing 20 percent in the distribution of agricultural loans, 35 percent in the distribution of fertilizers and 21 percent in production, 31 percent in sugar production, 13 percent in the purchase of wheat and 20 percent in the purchase of paddy. He said that the cooperative sector is making a very important contribution in the rural and agricultural economy. He said that we have to lay such a strong foundation of cooperation in the next 5 years so that cooperation can reach every village and household for the next 125 years.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Modi government has come up with two new schemes through cooperatives. He said that the government has taken important steps to promote Ethanol and for the prosperity of the farmers producing Maize. He said that the government have made arrangements that two big cooperative institutions of the government will buy Maize produced by the farmers online at the minimum support price (MSP) and Ethanol will be made from it. He said that this will not only make the farmers prosperous but will also help in increasing the country’s foreign exchange reserves by reducing the import of Petrol. Shri Shah said that similarly, now National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED) and Consumer cooperative institutions will also procure 4 types of Pulses at 100 per cent MSP. He said that we should promote ‘Cooperation among Cooperative’ institutions. He said that if we do all the economic transactions of the cooperative sector within the cooperative sector itself, then we will not need to bring a single penny from outside the cooperative sector. The Minister of Cooperation urged National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and all the State Cooperative Banks across the country that every Primary Agriculture Credit Society (PACS) and other cooperative institutions should open their account in the District Cooperative Bank or State Cooperative Bank, which will not only strengthen the cooperative sector but will also increase capital and confidence.

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given the slogan of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ to the cooperative sector of the country. He said that in the last 10 years, Prime Minister Modi emancipated 30 crore people from poverty and freed them of their worries of daily needs. He said that PM Modi has provided facilities like house, electricity, toilet, drinking water, 5 kg free food grains and gas cylinder to crores of poor people of the country. Shri Shah said that now these crores of poor people want to contribute to the development of the country but they do not have capital. He said that the only way to contribute to the development of the country and to develop oneself without capital is cooperation. Shri Shah said that the only objective behind the mantra of ‘Sahkar se Samriddhi’ given by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is to bring confidence, happiness and prosperity in the lives of these 30-crore people who are backward even after 75 years of independence.

Shri Amit Shah said that the Union Ministry of Cooperation has taken many important steps for the cooperative sector. He said that the government has set a target that there should not be any state or district in the country where there is not a viable district cooperative bank and a viable district milk producer union. He said that only by doing this we will be able to expand the cooperative sector and make every rural and poor person prosperous. Shri Shah said that for this we have envisioned a Cooperative Panchayat. He said that even today there are 2 lakh panchayats in the country where there is not a single cooperative institution. He said that we have set a target that in the next 5 years we will work to create multipurpose PACS in these two lakh panchayats. Shri Shah said that the government has also made model bylaws for PACS and despite PACS being a state subject, every state from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Assam to Dwarka has accepted these model bylaws. Shri Shah said that the Government has also worked towards making PACS multi-purpose and today, out of 65,000 functional PACS in the country, 48,000 have taken initiatives towards becoming viable by adding some new activity to themselves.

Union Minister of Cooperation said that the central government has also formed three multi-state cooperative institutions – Organic Committee, Export Committee and Seed Committee – through which the path has been paved to enrich the lives of farmers. He said that the government will soon bring a National Cooperative Policy. Shri Shah said that 1100 new Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) have been formed in the country, more than 1 lakh PACS have accepted the new bylaws and now with the issuance of bonds worth Rs 2000 crore to National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), this institution will be able to work for the welfare of more cooperative institutions. Along with this, the urban cooperative banks have got the target of opening new branches, the limit of personal housing loan given by cooperative banks has been doubled, both the income tax benefits and the limit of cash withdrawal have been increased and Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, by enacting a law, has done the work of cancelling the income tax liability of Rs 15000 crore of sugar cooperative mills. The IT liability was pending for many years.

Shri Amit Shah called upon the workers of the cooperative sector across the country and asked them to make cooperatives a strong pillar of the country’s economy. He said that we not only have to make cooperatives a strong pillar but also work to instil facilities, prosperity and self-confidence in the lives of crores of poor people of the country through this sector. Shri Shah expressed confidence that on the day when International Day of Cooperatives will be celebrated in 2029, there will not be a single Panchayat in the country where there will not be a PACS. He said that we all have to come together to make Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s dream come true and take cooperatives forward to serve the poor.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today paid tribute to Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on his birth anniversary. The Prime Minister said that his devotion to the mother land and sacrifice will continue to inspire the countrymen.

Shri Modi posted on X:

“अपने प्रखर राष्ट्रवादी विचारों से मां भारती को गौरवान्वित करने वाले डॉ. श्यामा प्रसाद मुखर्जी को उनकी जन्म-जयंती पर आदरपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि। मातृभूमि के लिए उनका समर्पण और त्याग देशवासियों को सदैव प्रेरित करता रहेगा।”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today interacted with Indian Contingent heading to Paris Olympic 2024 in New Delhi.

The Prime Minister posted on X;

“Interacted with our contingent heading to Paris for the @Olympics. I am confident our athletes will give their best and make India proud. Their life journeys and success give hope to 140 crore Indians.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi hosted the ICC T20 World Cup winning Indian Men’s Cricket Team at his residence today.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“An excellent meeting with our Champions!

Hosted the World Cup winning team at 7, LKM and had a memorable conversation on their experiences through the tournament.”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address to Parliament in the Rajya Sabha today.

Addressing the House, the Prime Minister thanked the President for the inspirational and encouraging address. Around 70 members presented their views on the President’s address and the Prime Minister thanked the members.

Reflecting on the democratic journey of the country, the Prime Minister said that after 60 years, the electorates of India have brought back a government for the third consecutive time, terming it a historic feat. While condemning the opposition’s move to undermine the electorates’ decision, Shri Modi said that in the past few days, he has observed that the same lot has accepted its defeat and their victory with a heavy heart.

The Prime Minister expressed confidence that the present government has only completed one-third of its rule i.e. 10 years and that two-thirds or 20 years remains. The Prime Minister said, “The people of India have wholeheartedly supported and blessed our government’s efforts to serve the country over the past 10 years”. He expressed pride in the judgement shown by the citizens who have defeated propaganda, prioritized performance, rejected the politics of illusions and put a seal of victory on the politics of trust.

Noting that India is entering the 75th year of the Constitution, the Prime Minister said that it is a special stage as the Parliament of India is also completing 75 years, making it a delightful coincidence. Shri Modi heaped praise on the Constitution of India handed down by Baba Saheb Ambedkar and said those who never had a family member associated with the political spectrum in India are getting the opportunity to serve the country due to the rights enshrined in it. “ It is the Constitution given by Baba Saheb Ambedkar which has allowed people like me, who have zero political lineage, to enter politics and reach such a stage”, he said. He further added that now that the people have put their stamp of approval, the government is here for the third consecutive time. The Prime Minister underlined that the Constitution of India is not just a compilation of articles but its spirit and imprint are extremely valuable.

Shri Modi recalled that there was staunch opposition raised when his Government had proposed to commemorate 26th November as the “Constitution Day”. He added that their decision to commemorate Constitution day has helped to further disseminate the spirit of the constitution, discuss and deliberate on why and how certain provisions were included and omitted in the Constitution amongst youngsters  in schools and colleges. The Prime Minister was hopeful that the sense of faith and a developed understanding of the Constitution would increase by arranging competitions like essays, debates and extempore amongst our students on various facets of the Constitution. “The Constitution has been our biggest inspiration”, he added. Shri Modi underlined that as the Constitution was entering into the 75th year of its existence,  his Government planned to celebrate it as “Jan Utsav ” to ensure nationwide celebrations. He further added that they would also strive to ensure that the spirit and motive of the Constitution is made aware in every nook and corner of the country.

Hailing the electorate, the Prime Minister said that the people of India have voted his government to power thrice to achieve the goals of development and reliance through ‘Viksit Bharat’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. Shri Modi further hailed this electoral win as not merely a stamp of approval by the citizens on the decisions taken by his government over the last 10 years, but also as a mandate to fulfill their future dreams and aspirations. “People of this country have entrusted us with the opportunity to bring their future resolutions to fruition,” he added.

The Prime Minister reminded that the country has seen the Indian economy rise from tenth to the fifth largest economy in the last ten years despite challenges like global disturbances and the pandemic. “This mandate is to take the economy to third place from the present fifth place”, The Prime Minister added, expressing confidence to fulfill this mandate.

Shri Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to increase the speed and scope of development that has taken place in the last 10 years. In the next 5 years, the Prime Minister assured the House that the government would work towards saturation of basic necessities of the people. “We want to transform this era into an era of saturation of basic necessities with the help of good governance”, PM Modi exclaimed. He highlighted that the next 5 years are crucial for the fight against poverty and expressed the belief in the collective capabilities of the poor to take a stand against poverty and overcome it based on the experiences of the last 10 years.

Elaborating on the impact of India becoming the third largest economy in every aspect of people’s lives, Shri Modi said that this eventuality will have an unprecedented impact on the global scenario also. He talked about the global resurgence of Indian startups and companies in the next five years and the emergence of tier 2 and tier 3 cities emerging as growth engines.

Calling the present century a technology driven century, PM Modi, talked of new tech footprints in many new sectors such as public transport. He also hoped that small cities would play a major role in fields like medicine, education or innovation.

Underlining the importance of strengthening the four pillars of farmers, poor, narishakti and youth, the Prime Minister said that the government’s focus on these areas is critical in the journey of India’s development.

Thanking the members for their suggestions for agriculture and the farmers, the Prime Minister recounted the Government’s effort to make agriculture lucrative for the farmers in the last 10 years. He mentioned ensuring credit, seeds, affordable fertilizer, crop insurance, MSP procurement,. “We have made the utmost effort to provide a robust system to farmers ranging from seed to market through micro-planning at every stage”, the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the benefits of Kisan Credit Card and said that it has simplified the process of availing loans for small farmers. He further added that the benefits of Kisan Credit Card have been extended to fishermen and animal keepers. The Prime Minister also mentioned welfare schemes for small farmers and highlighted PM Kisan Samman Nidhi which has benefitted 10 crore farmers disbursing about 3 lakh crore rupees in the last 6 years. The Prime Minister also pointed out the inadequacy and lack of credibility of the loan waiver schemes in the previous regimes and underlined the Kisan Kalyan Schemes of the current regime.

Continuing his speech after the walkout of the opposition, the Prime Minister sympathized with the Chairman of the house and said “I am duty bound to be a servant of the people. I am accountable to people for every minute of my time”. He also criticized the opposition for disrespecting the traditions of the House.

The Prime Minister highlighted that his government gave a subsidy of Rs 12 lakh crores for fertilizers to the poor farmers, the highest figure since independence. Shri Modi said that to empower the farmers, his government did not just announce a record increase in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) but also created new records in purchasing from them. Drawing a comparison with the previous government, he highlighted that his government has delivered 2.5 times more money to paddy and wheat farmers over the last 10 years. “We do not want to stop here. For the next five years, we are trying to solve the problems arising in new sectors by studying them. We have currently undertaken the world’s largest campaign of food storage,” he said, adding that works have started towards creating lakhs of granaries under the Central arrangement.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Horticulture was an important sector of agriculture and his government was tirelessly working to increase the infrastructure for its safe storage, transport and sale.

“The Government has continually expanded the scope of India’s development journey with the root mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”, the Prime Minister emphasized. He underlined that providing a life of dignity for the citizens has been the government’s top priority. Pointing out that those who remained neglected for decades after independence are not only cared for but also worshiped today, the Prime Minister mentioned addressing the issues of ‘divyang’ brothers and sisters in mission mode and on a micro level so they can lead a life of dignity requiring minimum dependence on others. Highlighting the inclusive nature of his Government, Shri Modi emphasized that it had worked to implement a law for the transgenders, a forgotten section of the society. He added that even the Western countries today look at the progressive nature of India with pride. He highlighted that the prestigious Padma awards were also now bestowed upon transgenders by his Government.

Similarly, a welfare board has been created for nomadic and semi-nomadic communities. The Prime Minister also mentioned steps for Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) as 24 thousand crore rupees have been allocated under Jan Man Scheme. This, the Prime Minister said, is an indication that the government is indulging in the politics of development rather than vote politics.

PM Modi also touched upon the Vishwakarmas of India who have played a key role in India’s development journey, and informed that the government with the help of about Rs 13 thousand crores have transformed their lives by inculcating professionalism and providing the resources for skill development. He also mentioned the PM SvaNidhi scheme that enabled the street hawkers to avail of bank loans and further increase their incomes. “Be it poor, dalits, backward community, tribals or women, they have fully supported us”, he added.

The Prime Minister underlined the Indian approach of women-led development towards which the country is moving not just as a slogan but with unwavering commitment. Referring to Smt Sudha Murthy’s intervention regarding women’s health, PM Modi noted the importance of mother in the family. Shri Modi narrated priority focus on women’s health, sanitation and wellness. He mentioned toilets, sanitary pads, vaccinations, cooking gas as key measures in that direction. He highlighted that most of the 4 crore houses that have been handed to the poor have been registered in the name of women. He also mentioned schemes like Mudra and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna that have economically empowered women making them independent and giving them a voice to become a part of decision-making. Shri Modi informed that so far 1 crore women working in self-help groups in small villages have become Lakhpati Didis today while the government is working to increase their number by 3 crores in the present term.

Shri Modi expressed hope that his Government’s attempt is to make women lead in every new sector and ensure every new technology reaches women first. “Today Namo Drone Didi Abhiyan has successfully been implemented in the villages with women at the forefront of it”, he added. PM Modi added that women operating drones were referred to as ‘Pilot Didis’ and such a kind of recognition is a driving force for women.

Criticizing the tendency to politicize women’s issues and selective attitude, the Prime Minister expressed concern over violence against women in West Bengal

Highlighting the new global image of the country, the Prime Minister said that the era of ‘ifs and buts’ has ceased to exist today as Bharat is welcoming foreign investments which are paving the way for employment opportunities for its youth while also showcasing their potential and talent on an international platform. The Prime Minister said that today’s victory of India has brought hope for those investors who look forward to a balance in the global economy. Shri Modi held that today Bharat is emerging as a promising land when it comes to transparency.

The Prime Minister recalled the time of the 1977 Lok Sabha elections when the press and radio were curtailed and people’s voices were muted. He underlined that the electors voted to protect the Constitution of India and re-establish democracy, while today, in this fight to save the Constitution, the first choice of the people of India is the present government. Shri Modi also touched upon the atrocities that were inflicted upon the nation during the time of Emergency. He also mentioned the 38th, 39th and 42nd Constitutional Amendments along with a dozen other articles that were amended during the Emergency, thereby tampering with the spirit of the Constitution. Shri Modi also chastised the appointment of the National Advisory Council (NAC) which had the power to override the decisions made by the Cabinet, and the preferential treatment meted out to a single family irrespective of the established protocols. Prime Minister Modi also criticized the evasive methods used by the opposition to avoid a discussion on the era of Emergency.

“The period of Emergency was not just a political issue but it concerned India’s democracy, Constitution and humanity”, the Prime Minister exclaimed. Pointing out the atrocities inflicted upon the then opposition leaders who were put behind bars, Shri Modi mentioned Late Shri Jai Prakash Narayan ji who could not fully recover after his release. “Many who left home never returned after the Emergency ”, the Prime Minister said with deep grief recalling the state of minorities in Muzaffarnagar and Turkman Gate during the Emergency.

The Prime Minister expressed concern for the tendency to protect the corrupt by certain quarters in the opposition. Mentioning various scams committed by the various governments run by the opposition parties, the Prime Minister rejected the charge of misusing enforcement agencies. He also criticized double standards in the sphere of the fight against corruption. He also narrated instances of misuse of investigative agencies in the previous governments. “Fight against corruption is not an electoral matter for me but it is a mission for me”, said PM Modi. The Prime Minister recalled the twin promises of dedication to the poor and a strong strike on corruption at the time of the arrival of the new government in 2014. This is manifested in the world’s biggest poor welfare scheme and new laws against corruption such as laws against black money, benami and provisions of direct benefit transfer and ensuring the transfer of benefits to every eligible beneficiary. “I have given full remit to investigative agencies to act against the corrupt”, the Prime Minister emphasized.

Reiterating the President’s concern over the recent paper leaks, the Prime Minister assured the youth that his government is taking strict action against those playing with the future of our country and will not let them go unpunished. “We are strengthening the whole system to ensure that our youth do not have to live under any kind of doubt and showcase their potential confidently,” he added.

Citing the voting figures of the recent Lok Sabha elections in Jammu & Kashmir, the Prime Minister said the people of the union territory have come out in large numbers to cast their votes, breaking the records of the last four decades. “People of Jammu and Kashmir have approved Bharat’s Constitution, its democracy and Election Commission,” he said hailing the mandate. Shri Modi called it a much-awaited moment for the citizens of this country. Congratulating the voters of the union territory, the Prime Minister said that in the past few decades multiple bandhs, protests, blasts and terror activities had eclipsed the democracy in Jammu & Kashmir. However, the people of Jammu & Kashmir have displayed their unwavering faith in the Constitution and decided their future. “In a way, we are in the final stage of our fight against terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. We are working hard to destroy the remaining terror networks,” he said, adding that the people of the union territory are helping and guiding them in this fight.

The Prime Minister said that the Northeast is fast becoming the gateway of the nation’s progress. He narrated steps taken in this direction in the last few years. He mentioned the unprecedented growth of infrastructure in the Northeast. He also expressed hope for a long-lasting impact of the efforts to ensure permanent peace in the region as boundary disputes among the states are being addressed in a meaningful manner with consensus.

Recalling his elaborate speech concerning Manipur in the previous session of Rajya Sabha, Shri Modi reiterated that the Government was continuously making efforts to ease the situation in Manipur. He added that there were more than 11,000 FIRs lodged and more than 500 wrongdoers were arrested during and after the unrest in Manipur. The Prime Minister emphasized that we must acknowledge the fact that the incidents of violence in Manipur are on a continuous downward trajectory. He added that this meant the hope for peace was a definite possibility in Manipur.  Shri Modi informed the house that today, schools, colleges, offices and other institutions were functioning normally in Manipur. He added that even the development journey of children was not hampered in any way. The Prime Minister underlined that Central and State Governments were in discussion with all the stakeholders to ensure peace and cordiality in Manipur. He highlighted that the Home Minister himself led the efforts of peace from the front by being in Manipur. He further added that even the senior officials were pressed into the task of finding solutions to the problems and ensuring peace.

The Prime Minister expressed concern about the difficult flood situation in Manipur currently. Informing the House that 2 companies of NDRF were deployed for the flood relief work, Shri Modi stressed that the Central Government was closely working with the State Government in relief efforts. Shri Modi underlined that it was the time and duty of all stakeholders to toe the political and party lines to ensure peace and normalcy in Manipur. The Prime Minister also requested the dissidents to stop provoking and further endangering the security situation of Manipur. He reminded the House that the social conflict in Manipur is deeply rooted with a long history, leading to the imposition of President’s rule 10 times since independence. Taking note of the 5-year-long social conflict in Manipur from 1993 onwards, Shri Modi emphasized that there is a need to handle the situation with wisdom and patience. He invited all the like-minded people to help him in his efforts to ensure normalcy and peace in Manipur.

The Prime Minister emphasized that he has learnt the importance of federalism from experience as he was the Chief Minister of State before stepping foot into the Lok Sabha and becoming the Prime Minister of India. Shri Modi underlined his stand for strengthening cooperative and competitive federalism and mentioned holding important G20 programs in every state of the country to promote the state and its capabilities on the global stage. He also informed that a record number of discussions and deliberations took place within the state and the center during the Covid pandemic.

Noting that Rajya Sabha is the House of the States, the Prime Minister reiterated that India is guiding the next revolution in Semiconductor and electronics manufacturing and encouraged the states of India to compete on development, good governance, policy formation, generating employment and attracting foreign investments. Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that every state of India has an opportunity when the world is knocking on India’s doors. He urged all States to contribute to India’s growth story and reap its benefits. He said that the competition among states will hugely help the youth as new opportunities will be created and gave the example of Assam in the Northeast where work related to Semiconductors is taking place at a fast pace.

Speaking about the year 2023 being declared the ‘Year of Millets’ by the United Nations, the Prime Minister said that it signifies the power of India’s small-scale farmers. He urged the states to formulate policies to promote millet production and create a roadmap to place it in the global market. He also noted that millets can play a critical role in the nutrition market of the world and become a staple food in regions with undernourished populations.

The Prime Minister also encouraged the states to constitute policies and frame the laws that enhance ‘Ease of Living’ among the citizens. He expressed the need to raise the fight against corruption at all levels be it Panchayat, Nagar Palika, Mahanagar Palika, Tehsil or Zila Parishad and exhorted the states to join in unison.

Throwing light on the importance of efficiency in the government’s decision-making, delivery and governance model to transform India into a blueprint of the 21st century, the Prime Minister expressed confidence that the pace of work done in these sectors would get a boost. He also noted that efficiency brings transparency into the system, thereby protecting the rights of the citizens, promoting Ease of Living and eliminating the ‘ifs and buts’.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need to reduce the interference of government in the life of the citizens while maintaining government’s support for those who need it.

Expressing concern about climate change, the Prime Minister said the natural calamities are increasing. He encouraged all the states to come forward and fight it. Shri Modi said that all need to work together to provide potable water to all and upgrade health services. He expressed confidence that these fundamental goals can be achieved through political willingness and every state will step up and cooperate to reach them.

Reiterating that the current century is going to be a century of India, the Prime Minister said that now we can not afford to miss this opportunity. He noted that many similarly placed countries have become developed as India missed many chances. He insisted that there is no need to avoid reforms and that with more decision-making power devolving to the citizens, progress and growth are bound to follow.

“Viksit Bharat is the mission of 140 crore citizens”, the Prime Minister said as he highlighted the importance of unity to achieve this goal. He reiterated that the whole world is ready to invest in India’s potential and said, “India is the first choice of the world.” He exhorted the states to seize the opportunity.

The Prime Minister concluded by thanking the President for her guidance and the issues raised in her address.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi replied to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address to Parliament in the Lok Sabha today.

Addressing the House, the Prime Minister expressed his gratitude towards the President’s Address and highlighted the idea of Viksit Bharat which was the focal point of the address. He underlined that the President of India raised important issues in her address and also thanked her for her guidance.

As many members shared their thoughts over the President’s address, yesterday and today, Shri Modi especially thanked the first-time Members of Parliament who shared their thoughts on the President’s address by respecting the rules of the House. He remarked that their demeanor was no less than any seasoned Member of Parliament and their thoughts have further enriched the merit of this debate.

Thanking the electorate for choosing the government by exercising their franchise in the world’s largest election, the Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the citizens of India for electing the present government for the third time in a row and termed it a moment of pride in the democratic world.  He underlined that the government’s efforts for the past 10 years were the deciding factor for the voters and highlighted the government’s commitment to serving the citizens with the belief of ‘Jan Seva hi Prabhu Seva’, i.e. Service to humanity is service to God. He mentioned that more than 25 crore poor have been lifted out of poverty in such a short span for the first time since independence.

Reiterating the stand of Zero Tolerance for corruption after 2014, the Prime Minister said that the electorates of the country brought them to power again. “Today India’s reputation has improved across the world. Every Indian now feels proud.” Shri Modi stated that each of his government’s policies, decisions and work prioritize India. Throwing light on the growing presence of India on the global stage, the Prime Minister said that the outlook of the world towards the nation has transformed and it instills pride in every citizen. Prime Minister Modi emphasized the sole aim of ‘Nation First’ which is reflected in the policies and decisions of the government. With this belief, the Prime Minister said that the government has continued the process of reforms throughout the nation. He said that in the last 10 years, the government has strived to serve the people with the mantra of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas and the principles of’ Sarv Panth Sambhav’, which means all religions are equal.

Shri Modi remarked that India had seen the appeasement politics and governance model of appeasement for a long time now. The Prime Minister highlighted that for the first time in India, his Government worked towards secularism with satisfaction and confirmation of the people. He underlined that satisfaction for him meant achieving saturation in various policies of the Government and accomplishing their resolve of ensuring service delivery to the last person of India. Shri Modi added that this philosophy of saturation for him, in the true sense meant social justice and secularism, and has been approved by the people of India in the form of the third consecutive term.

The Prime Minister noted that this election has once again proved the maturity and idealism of the people of India. “People have shown trust in our policies, intentions and commitment”, the Prime Minister emphasized. He said that the people have endorsed the resolution of Viksit Bharat in this election.

Underlining the importance of a developed nation, the Prime Minister said that the dreams of every citizen of the country are fulfilled when it progresses, while simultaneously laying the foundation for fulfilling the aspirations of the future generations as well. The Prime Minister emphasized that the people of India deserve to reap the benefits of a developed India which the previous generations have always longed for. He said that the creation of Viksit Bharat would drastically improve the living conditions and the quality of life in the villages and cities of India while also instilling a feeling of pride among the people and creating numerous opportunities for them. “India’s cities will participate equally with other developed cities of the world”, he assured.

The Prime Minister said that Viksit Bharat refers to the availability of multiple and equal opportunities for each citizen of the country. It ensures growth for everyone based on skills, resources and potential.

Prime Minister Modi assured the citizens of India that the government will make all possible efforts to realize the ideal of Viksit Bharat in earnest and honesty. “Every moment of time and every cell of our bodies is dedicated to the idea of creating a Viksit Bharat”, Shri Modi emphasized, “24 by 7 for 2047.”

The Prime Minister recalled the period before 2014 when the entire nation was in a state of despair. Terming the loss of confidence among the citizens as the biggest loss to the nation during the period, the Prime Minister said that it created a cloud of disappointment. He recalled that it was an era marred by scams and policy paralysis pushing the country into the list of fragile five economies. Common citizens had lost all hope, he said, adding that bribery was a common practice, be it for house, gas connection or to receive grains through the Public Distribution system.

The Prime Minister said that the citizens of the country were forced to go about their everyday life blaming their fate for the poor condition of the state before 2014. “They chose us, ushering in a moment of change”, he added.

The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s efforts in transforming those who once thought that nothing was possible into believing that everything is possible. Listing down the government’s achievements, the Prime Minister mentioned a successful 5G rollout, highest coal production, transformative policies to strengthen the nation’s banking system, zero tolerance policy for terrorism and abrogation of Article 370. “As the walls of Article 370 have been demolished, democracy is strengthening”, he added, noting the record voter turnouts in the recently concluded general elections.

“The belief, expectations and trust of 140 crore citizens become a driving force for development”, the Prime Minister said. This belief, the Prime Minister said, symbolizes accomplishment by determination.

Shri Modi remarked that citizens were as excited and confident today, as they were during our freedom struggle, to make India a developed nation. Hailing the progress of the country in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said, “Today Bharat needs to compete with itself. We have to break our old records and take the country to the next level.” PM Modi continued that the path of development that India has taken in the last decade has now become a benchmark. He expressed confidence that the country will progress at a faster pace, saying, “We will take every sector to the next level.”

Shri Modi highlighted that in the last 10 years, India grew from the 10th largest to the 5th largest economy in the world, while expressing confidence that India will soon be the 3rd largest economy in the world. Underlining that India has now become one of the largest mobile manufacturers and exporters in the world, Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that the nation would scale similar heights in the field of semiconductors in the government’s third term.

The Prime Minister reiterated that even though the nation would conquer new milestones and reach new heights, the government will be rooted in the service of the common citizens. Shri Modi touched upon the 4 crore pucca houses that were handed to the poor and informed that 3 crore new houses will be built in the coming times. Referring to the rise of women’s self-help groups, the Prime Minister informed about the government’s plan of action to create 3 crore Lakhpati Didis. The Prime Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to working at three times the speed and effort in its third term and also producing three times the result.

The Prime Minister said that a government coming to power for the third time in a row after 60 years signifies the efforts of the government and the trust created by it among the citizens. “Such feats are not achieved by petty politics but by the blessings of the citizens”, PM Modi said, adding that the people have chosen stability and continuity.

The Prime Minister also lauded the people’s mandate in the legislative assembly elections held in the four states of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh and also mentioned massive victories in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh in the Lok Sabha elections. He also touched upon the increasing vote share in multiple states across the nation. “Janta Janardan is by our side”, he added.

Reflecting on the recent Lok Sabha election results, the Prime Minister urged the opposition to accept the mandate of the people with humility and understand the people’s message. He said that the people have chosen the path of development and are determined to realize the goal of Viksit Bharat. Noting that India must collectively embark on a new journey of development, the Prime Minister asked the citizens of India to remain vigilant against those choosing the path of chaos, lawlessness and divisive politics. He also warned against the unsuitable economic policies that tend to push the nation towards economic chaos and the spread of misinformation in the country. The Prime Minister also urged the opposition through the Speaker to maintain the decorum and dignity of the august House and also suggested the Speaker take corrective measures so that the sanctity of the House remains unperturbed.

Speaking about the era of Emergency, the Prime Minister said that those ruling the nation had created a dictatorial atmosphere in the country causing widespread cruelty to the citizens and injustice to the nation. He also recalled the time when Baba Saheb Ambedkar resigned from the Cabinet citing his resentment towards the then government’s lack of action to protect the rights of backward classes and scheduled castes as promised in the new Indian constitution. He also highlighted the atrocities caused to other prominent leaders such as Jagjivan Ram ji, Chaudhary Charan Singh ji and Sitaram Kesri ji.

Quoting philosopher Swami Vivekanand’s Chicago speech, the Prime Minister said that he takes pride in belonging to a religion that has taught intolerance and universal acceptance to the world. He held that Bharat’s democracy and diversity have flourished only because of tolerance and the spirit of unity of the Hindu community. He also expressed concern that today, the Hindu community is being falsely accused and conspired against.

Hailing the valor and strength of the armed forces of India, Shri Modi highlighted that there were a host of reforms undertaken in the defence sector in the last 10 years and mentioned modernizing and equipping India’s armed forces to take on every challenge. Shri Modi stressed that the government is making all efforts for the armed forces to be battle-ready, keeping in mind the motive of national security. Underlining the importance of setting up a theatre command, Shri Modi expressed satisfaction that work is being done in the direction of establishing this long overdue military organizational structure after the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

The Prime Minister highlighted that important reforms are being undertaken to make our armed forces self-reliant in Aatmanirbhar Bharat. He stressed that the armed forces should be young and there is a need to increase the number of youngsters in our forces. Shri Modi underlined that national security is a serious matter and the Government is undertaking timely reforms to make the armed forces ‘battle-worthy’.

Shri Modi noted that there is an enormous change in the landscape of warfare, be it the weapons or technique and hence, there is a huge responsibility on the government to strengthen our forces to tackle such emerging challenges despite false allegations and accusations. He pointed out that various corruption scandals had stalled the strengthening of the capabilities of the armed forces.

The Prime Minister highlighted that his Government in the past had implemented the “One Rank, One Pension” scheme which was stalled for a long time. He added that despite the difficulties of Covid pandemic, his government had granted 1.2 lakh crore rupees for the implementation of OROP scheme.

Expressing concern over the recent paper leaks, the Prime Minister assured the youth of the country that his government is extremely serious about preventing such incidents in the future and is working on a war footing to fulfill its responsibilities towards them and the nation. He said several arrests have been made across the country in concern to the NEET-UG paper leak incident. Shri Modi said, “The Central government has already introduced a strict law. Necessary steps are being taken to strengthen the entire screening system.”

“Development has been the government’s biggest resolution in the past 10 years”, the Prime  Minister said. He highlighted the resolutions of making India the third-largest economy in the world, supplying clean drinking water to every household, providing pucca homes to every poor, strengthening the armed forces by making them self-reliant, boosting the renewable energy space in the country, making India a green hydrogen hub, modernizing infrastructure development, creating new employment and self-employment opportunities in developed India, empowering skill development and shaping the future of the youth. Referring to a recent study, the Prime Minister informed that job creation has seen record numbers in the private industry in the last 18 years.

Applauding the Digital India movement, the Prime Minister said Bharat stands as a shining example of a digital payment system in the world. Referring to the G20 Summit, he underlined that even the developed countries of the world are amazed by our digital movement.

The Prime Minister observed the growth of competition and challenges with India’s progress and warned against those who look at the nation’s progress as a challenge while inflicting harm on India’s democracy, demography and diversity. Quoting a judgement by the Supreme Court of India, the Prime Minister said, “It seems that a strong effort is being made to undermine India’s progress by creating doubt and weakening its foundations in every endeavor. Such efforts must be culled from the source.” He stressed the need for serious deliberations by the entire House on the observations made by the Supreme Court of India and also urged the citizens to remain vigilant of such forces. “India will never tolerate anti-national conspiracies”, PM Modi added

Shri Modi reiterated that the world is treating India’s progress with extreme seriousness while also noticing all the intricacies. He stressed the need for the contributions of each Member of the House to accomplish the resolutions and create a developed India. He urged the Members to come forward with the belief in national welfare. “We must walk shoulder to shoulder and fulfill the dreams and expectations of the citizens”, PM Modi emphasized. He also stressed the importance of positive politics in the present era. “Let us compete on good governance, delivery and fulfilling the expectations of the people”, he added.

During the speech, the Prime Minister also condoled the unfortunate deaths of victims in a stampede accident in Hathras of Uttar Pradesh. He wished a speedy recovery for the injured in the accident. He also informed the house that the state government was actively engaged in the search and rescue operations while the senior officials of the Central Government were in constant touch with the State Government to ensure all necessary help for the victims.

Prime Minister Modi especially congratulated the first-time Members of Parliament and expressed confidence that they will have a lot to learn. He concluded his address by expressing his gratitude towards the President’s Address and thanked the Members for their thoughts and contributions to the Motion of Thanks.

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today congratulated the newly-sworn in Prime Minister of Netherlands Dick Schoof on assuming office.

Shri Modi said he looks forward to further India-Netherlands partnership in areas of renewable energy, water management and agriculture among others.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Congratulations Dick Schoof on assuming office as the Prime Minister of the Netherlands. Look forward to closely working together to advance India-Netherlands partnership including in the areas of renewable energy, water management, agriculture, mobility, new and emerging technology. @MinPres”

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi,  today expressed grief over the deaths in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras mishap and announced an ex-gratia for the next of kin of each deceased and injured.

Shri Modi announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh for the next of kin of each deceased and Rs 50,000 to those injured in the stampede from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund (PMNRF).

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) posted on X:

“The Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji has announced an ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased in the mishap in Hathras. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000.”

Shri Modi also talked to the UP Chief Minister Shri Yogi Adityanath about the unfortunate incident and assured timely assistance to the victims.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“उत्तर प्रदेश के हाथरस में हुए दुखद हादसे को लेकर मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ जी से बात की। यूपी सरकार सभी पीड़ितों की हरसंभव सहायता में जुटी हुई है। मेरी संवेदनाएं उन लोगों के साथ हैं, जिन्होंने इसमें अपने प्रियजनों को खोया है। इसके साथ ही मैं सभी घायलों के जल्द से जल्द स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं। @myogiadityanath”