On the fourth anniversary of his government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday took to Twitter to thank the country, saying the "development had become a vibrant mass movement with every citizen feeling involved in India's growth trajectory. 125 crore Indians are taking India to great heights."
In another tweet, PM Modi "bowed" to the citizens of the country for their "unwavering faith" in the government. Highlighting the change that his policies had brought about, PM Modi explained his government's achievements over the past four years, in a self-assessed report-card.
'Yuva Shakti, Healthy and New India'
The Prime Minister in this report card claimed that multiple reforms had been undertaken to improve school education, and more opportunities were available to youngsters in the area of higher education with the establishment of 7 IITs, 7 IIMs, 14 IITs and more universities.
The Ayushman Bharat, "world's largest health insurance initiative", features prominently on the list of achievements which, PM Modi said, will cover 50 crore people.
"Over 3.15 crore children immunised under Mission Indradhanush, and heart stents and knee implants available at 50-70% discount," the card said.
PM Modi claimed that the world was now seeing a "new India and its mettle" after last year's surgical strikes in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir, and the ISRO's launch of over a hundred satellites.
'Development for Poor'
PM Modi had repeatedly emphasised "Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikaas" during the run-up to 2014 elections, and the year 2018 marked the "electrification of all villages" with "4 crore households" now receiving electricity. The Ujjawala scheme has ensured "smoke-free lives to 3.8 crore people", and 1 crore people got homes under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana.
The Prime Minister claimed that his government's commitment to social justice had empowered backward communities by increasing scholarships to students. More than 50% of the beneficiaries of the Mudra Yojana under which loans up to Rs 10 lakh to the non-corporate, non-farm small/micro enterprises are provided, were from the backward communities, adding that the current government had strengthened the SC/ST Act.
'Global Growth and Eliminating Corruption'
India remains the world's fastest-growing large economy in which the FDI jumped from 36 billion USD to 60.08 billion USD. The Prime minister claimed that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) had enhanced the ease of doing business and ease of living.
The PM also claimed that demonetisation had "unearthed" the highest number of "suspicious transactions and deposits" and about 3 lakh notices were issued to non-filers with large cash deposits.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's Take
In a blog titled, "My Reflections on the NDA Government after Completion of Four Years in Power", on Facebook, former finance minister Arun Jaitley listed the achievements of the Modi-led government since it came to power with a thumping majority of 282 seats on its own.
Labelling the erstwhile UPA regime "most corrupt since independence", Jaitley said that the Prime Minister created transparent systems through legislative and institutional changes, giving the citizens a "scam-free country".
"India has transformed from being a part of the “fragile five” to the “bright spot” on the global economic scene.
A regime of policy paralysis has been transformed into one of decisions and actions, he wrote, adding, "Good governance and good economics have been blended with good politics."
Victories in one election after another for the BJP and defeats for the Congress have, according to Jaitley, relegated the grand old party to the margins. Taking potshots at the Congress Jaitley said that its positions weren't of a "mainstream party" but one usually adopted by "fringe" organisations. "Fringe organisations can never hope to come in power," he said.
'NDA's Priorities'
Listing out the priorities of the NDA government as the Prime Minister and his minister prepares for the 2019 elections, Jaitley said that the fifth year will be the year of "consolidation of the policies and programmes which we have implemented."
The former finance minister launched a scathing attack on the Opposition parties who exhibited unity at the swearing-in ceremony of Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, calling it a "fictional alternative".
A group of disparate political parties are promising to come together. Some of their leaders are temperamental, the others occasionally change ideological positions. With many of them, such as TMC, DMK, TDP, BSP and the JD(S), the BJP has had an opportunity to share power.Arun Jaitley
Citing the 1996-98 years when the idea of a Third Front government was first experimented with, Jaitley asserted that a federal front was a "failed" idea. "Remembering 1996-98 as perhaps one of the worst periods of governance, the aspirational India which today occupies the high table in the world shall never accept an idea which has repeatedly failed," Jaitley said.
Jaitley also said that the political agenda for debate this year will be the Prime Minister Modi versus an "anarchist combination", a reference to Opposition parties currently planning to put up a joint fight against the NDA in 2019.
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