Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP’s Prime Ministerial Narendra Modi on Sunday unveiled his vision for the country, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, promising to develop 100 smart cities and set up IITs, IIMs and AIIMS in every State while projecting India as a brand worldwide.
From checking price rise and inflation, controlling poverty, ensuring security for women and empowering the poor to developing bullet trains and creating improved health infrastructure to focus on wellness, Modi unleashed a host of promises that the BJP would fulfil if it came to power.
To fight inflation, Modi suggested setting up of a “Price Stabilisation Fund” to help the common man neutralise the effect of rising prices and said the BJP’s priority would be to provide a real-time databank for agri produce with the use of modern technology.
Wanting to build “Brand India” to compete in the globalised world, he said it would focus on 5Ts — talent, tradition, tourism, trade and technology. Taking up Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s favourite project of inter-linking the rivers, Modi promised to fulfil the unfinished dream of the former Prime Minister.
Curbing blackmoney
On party veteran L.K. Advani’s pet project of bringing back the country’s blackmoney stashed abroad, for which the former Deputy Prime Minister had launched a nation-wide campaign in the form of a yatra, the Gujarat Chief Minister said he will fulfil his dream and utilise the money for the welfare of the poor. “If need be, we will amend the law and also set up a task force for bringing back the money.”
He also promised setting up of a national agriculture market and said the BJP will deal sternly with black marketeers by setting up special courts to deal with cases related to them and to provide time-bound punishment.
The BJP leader also suggested strengthening the education sector and centres of excellence and focus on skill development to help empower the youth of the country.
Modi said he will try to protect the federal structure, which the Congress-led UPA failed to do, and will not act as a “big brother” to States.