News Analysis India

Tag: Prime Minister

  • PM Modi showers praise on Khattar in big boost to Haryana CM

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday heaped praise on Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, saying the state has after decades got a government under his leadership which works with absolute honesty and that it will be evaluated as the best in the last five decades.

    Noting that he has known Khattar, an RSS pracharak drafted into the BJP like Modi, for many years, the prime minister said his talent has come to the fore as a chief minister and added that he works with dedication and innovation, with even the central government adopting the model of some of the Haryana government’s programmes.

    Modi’s public praise of the low profile chief minister has come at a time when the BJP leadership’s decision to remove three chief ministers, two in Uttarakhand and another in Gujarat, has prompted speculation about the fate of the CMs of other party-ruled states.

    The prime minister’s strong endorsement of Khattar, whose leadership has come under the scanner for a few times and who has his share of detractors within the state party unit, is likely to silence his critics in the BJP and will be a strong boost to his morale.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Infosys Foundation Vishram Sadan at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) on the Jhajjar Campus of AIIMS, New Delhi, Modi noted that he had worked for many years in Haryana as a BJP leader and seen many state governments closely.

    “After many decades Haryana has under the leadership of Manohar Lal Khattar got a government which works with absolute honesty. It has got a government which thinks day and night about the state’s bright future,” he said.

    The media, Modi added, has not paid much attention to this positive and constructive matter but this government will be considered the best whenever an evaluation is done. He lauded the Khattar government for its innovative approach and foresight.

    The “BJP team” under Khattar has laid down a foundation for Haryana with its long-term vision, and this is going to be a big strength for the state, he added.

    Modi later tweeted, “The coming years will always remember and cherish the pro-people work being done by @mlkhattar Ji and his team for the progress of Haryana.” Khattar became chief minister in 2014 after the BJP stormed to power in the state on its own for the first time.

    Though the BJP failed to win a majority in the 2019 polls, it joined hands with the Jannayak Janta Party to form the government and reposed its trust in him again.

  • Samajwadi party has moved from Samajwad to Pariwarwad: PM

    Highlighting benefits of 'double engine' government in UP, he said over Rs 80,000 crore has been transferred in bank accounts of farmers in the state so far.

  • I got opportunity to lead despite having no political, dynastic background or caste backing: PM Modi

    'Such is the power of your blessings that even after 20 years, I am still serving. First I served the people of Gujarat and now I am serving the country,' the prime minister added.

  • More trust, transparency in defence sector than ever before: PM Modi

    'In the last seven years, the country has worked to carry forward this resolve with the mantra of 'Make in India,' he added.

  • PM more concerned about his ‘artificial image’ than securing India’s borders, alleges Congress

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of being more concerned about the “artificial image” he has created about himself than the geographical integrity of India’s borders and questioned his silence on China’s continued incursions.

    Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also took a swipe at the prime minister asking why he does not show red eyes to China.

    “‘Mr 56 inch’, why don’t you show red eyes,” he asked in a tweet in Hindi, tagging a news report that China was not ready to step back at the borders after the 13th round of commander-level talks.

    Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera alleged at a press conference that a strong country like India with a strong army has a “weak” prime minister who was not ready to even name China.

    “Here is the prime minister in India who is more worried about an artificial image which he has created about himself and is much more worried about it than the geographical integrity of the borders of India,” he told reporters.

    He said the prime minister and ministers should talk with sensitivity especially while speaking about foreign policy.

    “We have a strong country and a strong army but a weak prime minister. There is clearly a lack of political will when China says we will not go back. China is displaying such courage as it knows that our prime minister will give it a clean chit before the world,” he alleged.

    The Congress leader recalled Modi’s June 19, 2020 statement at an all-party meeting that there has been no transgressions into Indian territory and asked, “Why did the prime minister of India lie to the nation and gave a misplaced clean chit to China.” He also alleged that Modi has diluted five agreements entered between India and China in the past and the balance is now tilting towards China on these deals.

    “Why is this weak government unable to make sure China adheres to these five agreements. We have a strong Army and why do we have a weak prime minister who dilutes India’s strengths,” he asked.

    Khera said there was no agreement coming out of the 13th round of Corps Commander Level meeting as the Chinese have been “brazenly entering Indian territory, while our jawans at the borders are bravely stopping, but this government and especially the prime minister is scared of even taking the name of China and holding them accountable”.

    He also asked how over 100 Chinese troops enter 5 km into Indian territory near Barahoti crossing the Tun Jun La pass in Uttarakhand and stay there for over three hours on August 30.

    “Hasn’t this government and its agencies failed at protecting India’s national security and sovereignty,” he further asked.

    Khera alleged that Chinese incursions over the past couple of years have happened in almost all sectors – from Ladakh to Uttarakhand to Sikkim to Arunachal Pradesh, but the government is silent.

    “Even the Army Chief of India said, ‘China is here to stay’.

    Why are the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Minister of External Affairs silent,” he asked, alleging that the implications of the Chinese incursions are extremely critical, especially when the PLA isn’t even open to discuss de-escalation in two extremely strategic and critical sectors for India – Depsang and Daulat Beg Oldi sectors.

    Khera claimed that there was danger looming large on our borders as China has made a massive troop build-up in Daulat Beg Oldi sector and has upgraded its weapons and deployed S-400 air defence missile system which is 400 km in the vicinity of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

    “The problem with our prime minister is that he shows red eyes to people within the country instead of showing them to China. He should quit Twitter and run the country instead,” the Congress leader also said.

  • Wish PM Modi celebrated his birthday everyday: Congress after 2.5 crore record vaccinations

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi should celebrate his birthday every day as some BJP-ruled states “performed” on the day and vaccinated many times the daily average, the Congress said on Saturday.

    The party took a dig at Modi a day after India achieved the highest record of 2.5 crore COVID-19 vaccinations on a single day. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said this is the pace of vaccination the country needs.

    “Looking forward to many more days of 2.1 crore vaccinations. This pace is what our country needs,” he tweeted. Party leader P Chidambaram said he was happy and grateful that 2.5 crore vaccinations were administered on Friday.

    “But why did we have to wait until the PM’s birthday,” he asked. Suppose the prime minister’s birthday was on December 31, would the 2.5 crore vaccinations have been done only on the last day of the year, Chidambaram also asked.

    “Vaccination is not like cutting a cake on a birthday. Vaccination is a programme, it is a process. It has to be accelerated every day, not scale a peak on a birthday,” he said on Twitter.

    “BJP ruled states — UP, MP, Gujarat and Karnataka — ‘perform’ on the PM’s birthday and vaccinate many times the daily average. On other days, they are ‘non-performing’ states.

    “I wish the PM celebrated his birthday every day,” the former Union finance minister added. In another tweet, he said, one-third of the adult population was yet to receive its first dose and only 21 per cent had been fully vaccinated.

    Prime Minister Modi, in a swipe at the opposition, on Saturday said there is talk of fever as a vaccine side-effect, but a political party experienced fever after 2.5 crore vaccines were administered on his birthday.

  • Vijay Rupani quitting as Gujarat CM signals end of BJP rule in state, claim AAP, IYC

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress’ youth wing on Saturday said the change of guard in Gujarat signals the end of BJP rule in the state.

    Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on Saturday resigned from the post, over a year before the state goes to polls.

    It is not clear what prompted the development in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s home state where elections to the 182-member Assembly are due in December next year.

    “AAP enters Uttrakhand, presents a robust and effective opposition to ruling BJP. BJP was compelled to remove its CM. AAP breaches BJP’s citadel, wins 27 seats in Surat, captures the space of opposition in Gujarat dislodging ineffective Congress. BJP forced to remove its CM,” AAP leader Raghav Chadha said in a tweet.

    The AAP has made inroads in Gujarat politics, winning 27 seats in the Surat Municipal Corporation in February.

    While the BJP retained power by winning 93 seats in the 120-seat SMC, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP won the remaining 27 seats. The Congress, which had won 36 seats in SMC last time, was reduced to zero seats.

    The Indian Youth Congress said in a tweet in Hindi, “In the election states, people have made up their mind to change the BJP government, but they are constantly changing the Chief Minister to mislead the people.

    No matter how many Chief Ministers they change, the people have made up their mind to change the BJP itself!” The reset button that the BJP has pressed on governance in the wake of the COVID-19 wave, which also saw a major overhaul by Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his own Cabinet, continues as Vijay Rupani on Saturday became the fourth chief minister to go.

    As the party works to refurbish its governance model, the move to drop Rupani as Gujarat’s Chief Minister, after easing out two chief ministers in Uttarakhand and one in Karnataka in the last few months, contrasts starkly with its decision to remain unyielding in backing its chief ministerial picks during Modi’s first term despite trenchant voices against some of them.

    Political watchers believe the changes highlight the BJP leadership’s analysis of the ground feedback and its readiness to address them, even though a final word on the shake-up can only be delivered at the elections.

  • Great day on vaccination front and on cricket pitch: PM Modi

    In cricket, India defeated England by 157 runs in the fourth Test at the Oval in London and took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

  • Your accomplishments inspired the entire nation:PM congratulates Bhavina on historic feat

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Bhavina Patel for her sensational semifinal win at the Tokyo Paralympics, saying her accomplishments have inspired the entire nation.

    Patel scripted history on Saturday when she stunned her world no. 3 Chinese opponent 3-2 to become the first table tennis player from the country to reach the final of the Paralympics.

    “Congratulations Bhavina Patel! You played excellently. The entire nation is praying for your success and will be cheering for you tomorrow. Give your best and play without any pressure. Your accomplishments inspire the entire nation. #Paralympics,” Modi tweeted.

    The 34-year-old, who was diagnosed with polio when she was 12 months old, competes in the class 4 category, in which athletes have fair sitting balance and fully functional arms and hands. Their impairment may be due to a lower spinal-cord lesion or cerebral palsy.

    Patel, who hails from Sundhiya village in Mehsana district in Gujarat and plays in a wheelchair, will take on world number one Chinese paddler Ying Zhou in the summit clash on Sunday.

    Patel’s medal, India’s first in para table tennis at the marquee event, will also open India’s account at the Tokyo Paralympics.

  • Jan Dhan initiative forever transformed India’s development trajectory: PM Modi

    It has ensured financial inclusion and a life of dignity as well as empowerment for countless Indians, Modi said, adding that the initiative has also boosted transparency.