PM’s address at Republic Summit 2024 in New Delhi
Speaker: Narendra Modi
Date: 07 Mar, 2024

Greetings to everybody! I congratulate the Republic team on this special summit. I believe that whatever Arnab has mentioned must have stemmed from the day-long discussions. I drank water before starting because I don’t know whether I will be able to digest this much or not. A few years ago when I said that this decade belongs to Bharat, people thought it was just a political statement, politicians keep saying such things. But it’s a truth and today the world is acknowledging that this decade belongs to Bharat. And I’m pleased that you have taken another step forward by starting a debate on “Bharat-The Next Decade”. This decade is crucial for fulfilling the dreams of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India). And I believe that whoever can influence whatever political ideology they belong to, however many opposite ideas they may have, what matters the most is that these ten years are meant for hard work. However, some people are so drowned in the abyss of disappointment that they find it difficult to think, hear and speak openly about it. I see some people sharing laughter. It shows that my words have struck the right chord. But I believe that debate and deliberation on such topics is also very necessary. But friends, The decade we are currently in, the decade that is passing by, I think it is the most important decade for independent Bharat so far. And that’s why I said from the Red Fort — this is the time, the right time. This decade is the foundation stone for building a capable, strong, and ‘Viksit Bharat’. This decade is about fulfilling those aspirations that once seemed impossible to the people of Bharat. It is very necessary to break a mental barrier. This decade will be about fulfilling Bharat’s dreams with Bharat’s capabilities. And I am saying this with great seriousness – Bharat’s dreams are to be realised through Bharat’s capabilities. Before the beginning of the next decade, we will see Bharat becoming the world’s third-largest economy. Before the beginning of the next decade, every Indian will have access to basic amenities like home, toilet, gas, electricity, water, internet and roads — every fundamental prerequisite. This decade will be about the modern infrastructure, construction of world-class expressways, high-speed trains, and a nationwide waterway network in Bharat. In this decade, Bharat will get its first bullet train. In this decade, Bharat will have fully operational dedicated freight corridors. In this decade, major cities of Bharat will be connected either through metro or the Namo Bharat railway network. In other words, this decade will be the decade of Bharat’s high-speed connectivity, high-speed mobility, and high-speed prosperity. Friends, You also know that this is a time of global uncertainties and instability. Experts are saying that this is the most unstable time in terms of severity and spread after the Second World War. Many governments around the world are facing anti-establishment waves. But amidst all this, Bharat has emerged as a ray of confidence in the form of a strong democracy. I’m not saying a ray of hope; I’m saying a ray of confidence with great responsibility. And these are the times when we have implemented many reforms in the country. Bharat has proven that good economics can go hand in hand with good politics. Friends, Today, there’s a global curiosity about how Bharat has achieved all this. This happened because we never ignored any aspect of the coin. This happened because we fulfilled the country’s needs as well as dreams. This happened because we focused on prosperity as well as empowerment. For example, we reduced corporate tax to a record level, but we also ensured that tax on personal income is minimized. Today, we are making record investments in the construction of highways, railways, airways, and waterways, but at the same time, we are also building millions of houses for the poor, providing them with free healthcare and free ration. While we have given relaxation in PLI Schemes of Make in India, we have also given farmers protection through insurance and means to increase their income. We are making significant investments in technology and innovation, but alongside this, we have also spent billions of rupees on the skill development of youth. Friends, In the decades following independence, a lot of time of Bharat was wasted by leading it in a wrong direction. Due to a singular focus on one family, the country’s development got defocused. I don’t want to go into further detail on this. But you will agree that we also need to recover our lost time to become a ‘Viksit Bharat’. Therefore, we need to work at an unprecedented scale and speed to achieve this. Today, you can see this happening everywhere in Bharat. When I was in Gujarat (as chief minister), I used to publicly challenge that if you go for 25 kilometers in any direction, you’ll see some development or infrastructure work going on. Start from anywhere, in any direction for 25 kilometers. I’m not talking in kilometers today, but I can say that if you look in any corner of Bharat, something better is happening. And you all may be debating how many more seats than 370 will BJP win in the third term. I also live among you, right? But my complete focus is on increasing the speed and scale of the country’s development. If I just give you an account of 75 days even the viewers of Republic would be surprised. There must be some people here who know at what speed development work is taking place in the country. In the last 75 days, I inaugurated and launched projects worth nearly 9 lakh crore rupees. This is more than 110 billion dollars. This is not even the annual expenditure of many countries in the world, and we have invested more than this in modern infrastructure in just 75 days. In the past 75 days, 7 new AIIMS have been inaugurated in the country. Four medical and nursing colleges, six national research labs have been started. Inauguration and foundation laying ceremony of permanent campuses or facilities related to 3 IIMs, 10 IITs, and 5 NITs have taken place. In addition, 3 IIITs, 2 ICARs, and 10 Central Institutes have been inaugurated and launched. Projects worth 1800 crore rupees related to space infrastructure have been inaugurated. In these 75 days alone, inauguration or foundation laying ceremonies of 54 power projects have taken place. Two new reactors of the Kakrapar nuclear power plant have been dedicated to the nation. The “core loading” of the indigenous fast breeder reactor in Kalpakkam has started, which is a very big revolutionary work. In Telangana, the inauguration of a 1600 megawatt thermal power plant has taken place. In Jharkhand, the inauguration of a 1300 megawatt thermal power plant has taken place. In Uttar Pradesh, the foundation stone has been laid for a 1600 megawatt thermal power plant. In Uttar Pradesh alone, the foundation stone has also been laid for a 300 megawatt solar power plant. In the same period, the foundation stone for the Ultra Mega Renewable Park has also been laid in Uttar Pradesh. The foundation stone for a hydro power project has been laid in Himachal Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, the country’s first green hydrogen fuel cell vessel has been launched. The inauguration of the Meerut-Simbhavali transmission lines in Uttar Pradesh has taken place. In Karnataka’s Koppal, the inauguration of transmission lines from the wind energy zone has taken place. In these 75 days alone, the inauguration of Bharat’s longest cable-stayed bridge has taken place. The completion and inauguration of work on the undersea optical cable to Lakshadweep has been done. The work to modernize more than 550 railway stations across the country has begun. 33 new trains have been flagged off. The inauguration of more than 1500 road, overpass, and underpass projects has taken place. The inauguration of 7 metro projects in 4 cities of the country has been done. Kolkata has got the gift of the country’s first underwater metro. Inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremonies have taken place for 30 projects worth 10,000 crore rupees for port development. In the past 75 days alone, the world’s largest storage scheme has been launched for farmers. The computerization work of 18,000 cooperatives has been completed. More than 21,000 crore rupees have been transferred to farmers’ bank accounts. And I would like to remind the viewers of Republic TV that these are the projects in which I have been involved. And I have only mentioned the inauguration and launch of projects, there is much more that has been done, which I am not detailing here. Apart from this, if I were to list the work of other ministries of my government, the list of work of the BJP-NDA’s other governments, I doubt whether you have arranged for morning tea or not. But I will give you another example of the scale and speed of our government, how it is working. You also know that a major scheme related to solar power was announced in this year’s budget, which has just been unveiled. It took less than four weeks since its announcement in the budget to get approval from the cabinet to launch the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana. Now, surveys have also begun to build one crore solar-powered homes. Under this scheme, the government is aiming to provide free electricity up to 300 units and enable people to earn from additional solar units. Today, the citizens of our country are witnessing and experiencing the speed and scale of our government firsthand, which is why they are saying, ‘Ek Baar, 400 Paar; Phir Ek Baar, 400 Paar’ (once again, more than 400 seats). Friends, People often ask me, “Don’t you feel affected by the negative campaign against you? Don’t you get bothered by the constant attacks?” I tell them that if I start paying attention to this negative campaign, then I’ll lose focus on the work I have to do. I’ve presented the report card of the last 75 days in front of you, but at the same time, I’m also busy with a roadmap for the next 25 years. Every second is precious to me. Even in this election atmosphere, we are going to the people with our achievements. But on the other hand, what do we see in the ranks of the Opposition? There is anger, abuses, and despair. They have neither issues nor solutions. Why is this happening? It’s because these parties fought elections only on slogans for seven decades. They kept talking about ‘Garibi Hatao’ (eradicating poverty) … these slogans are their reality. In the past 10 years, people have seen solutions and not slogans. Whether it is ensuring food security, restarting fertilizer factories, providing electricity, strengthening border infrastructure, or formulating housing schemes for people, or abolishing Article 370 — our government has worked on all priorities simultaneously. Friends, Republic TV has had a long-standing relationship with asking tough questions. The nation wants to know… and with these questions, you have made even the most formidable people break into a sweat. Earlier, the question in the country used to be: Where is the nation today, what is its condition! But look, how these questions have changed over the past 10 years! Ten years ago, people used to ask – What will happen to our economy now? Today, people ask – How soon will we become the world’s third-largest economy? Ten years ago, people used to say – When will we have technology like developed countries? Today, people ask those coming from abroad – Don’t you have digital payment systems there? Ten years ago, people used to tell the youth – What will you do if you don’t get a job? Today, people ask the youth – How is your start-up doing? Ten years ago, analysts used to ask – Why is inflation so high? Today, the same people ask – How is inflation under control in Bharat even after a global crises? Ten years ago, the question was – Why is development not taking place? Today, the question is – How are we progressing so rapidly? Earlier, people used to ask – Which scam has come out now? Now, the question being asked is – Which scamster has been acted against now? Earlier, media colleagues used to ask – Where are the Big Bang Reforms? Today, the question is – How are reforms taking place even during elections? Ten years ago, people used to ask – Will Article 370 ever be abolished from Jammu and Kashmir? Today, the question is – How many tourists have visited Kashmir? How much has been invested in Kashmir? By the way, I was in Srinagar this morning. I have inaugurated and launched many new projects, and today, the atmosphere was something else, my friends. I have had a connection with this land for 40 years. Today, I saw a different mood, a different form, dreams, and people filled with self-confidence. Friends, For decades, governments left those it considered weak and as a liability in lurch. In the last 10 years, we have taken responsibility for them. That’s why I say – Modi stands with those with whom no one else stands. Take the example of Aspirational Districts. For years, these districts, home to millions of citizens, were left behind, left to rely on fate and were called backward areas. Our government not only changed the thinking but also changed the approach and, thereby, their fate. Similar was the condition of the people living on our border districts. The policy of previous governments was that areas adjacent to the border would not develop. Officials would say, “No development.” Due to this policy, the people living there also faced problems, resulting in migration. We started the Vibrant Villages Program so that people can be empowered and the conditions of the areas can change. Look at the example of the Divyang people. For years, no one paid attention to them because they were not considered vote banks. We not only prioritized the Divyang people in every field but also changed people’s mindset. You might be surprised to know and there might even be a matter of curiosity for this audience. In our states, languages have developed in their own ways, and diversity is a matter of pride. But for our specially-abled individuals, who have difficulty hearing and speaking, signage is necessary. You will be surprised to know that signage used to vary greatly in our country. Now tell me, if a person from Delhi goes to Jaipur and the other person communicates using a different set of signs, what will happen to him? After so many years of independence, I achieved this feat. I formed a committee for this work, and today, the same type of signage is taught to my Divyang citizens across the country. It may seem like a small thing to people. But when there is a sensitive government, its thinking and approach are rooted, connected to the ground and people. And look, today the perspective towards the Divyang people has changed. The construction of public infrastructure and the design of architecture are also being carried out  in keeping with the requirements of the Divyang people. There are many special groups and communities that have not been given importance since independence. We have created special welfare boards for such wandering tribes. No one ever thought about our millions of street vendors. But our government created the PM SVANidhi scheme for them during the time of Corona. No one cared about our skilled artists, whom we now call Vishwakarma. We ensured that this category faces no problems from skilling to funding! The central government is now spending 13,000 crore rupees on this initiative. Friends, The Republic TV team knows that behind every achievement lies a journey of hard work, vision, and determination. Arnab also showed us a little trailer on the same. Bharat is also advancing rapidly in its journey. In the next decade, Bharat will reach unprecedented heights, which will be unimaginable. And this is also the guarantee of Modi. Friends, I liked that you are also moving forward with a global vision. I am confident, but what you said, I can suggest one or two suggestions without royalty. I don’t need any royalty. See, the channels you are thinking of creating for states. If you keep doing them one after the other, it won’t gel well. Basically, my way of thinking is different, so I’m saying. You create a dedicated channel in which you allocate time for two hours of Gujarati news, two hours of Bengali news, two hours of Malayalam news, all on the same channel. And now Google Guru also provides you with translations. And I am advancing the country quite a bit in the artificial intelligence (AI) world. Now, my speeches in eight to nine languages are easily available to you. As I speak now, my speech will be available in all the languages in no time. Be it in Tamil or Punjabi. What will happen is that your core team will be ready in the process. And the more prepared the core team is, the more economically viable it becomes, then dedicate it after 15 days. Why don’t you run channels of six states in a day? Fix the time. It’s no big deal for technology. The other thing is that you want to create a global channel. It is not necessary that everyone watches your channel. In the beginning, you can start as a news agency for SAARC countries. It will help people in the Maldives. Nashid is a very old friend of mine, so I can ask him anything. You should focus on SAARC countries to start with as people there are interested in news pertaining to India. You can run programs based on their language. Gradually, you will (realize your dream). It is not like that I will do MGNREGA in these five years, then I will applaud the success of MGNREGA for five years. The country doesn’t work like that, sir. The country moves at a fast pace, the country has to do major tasks. And I believe that you don’t have to contest elections, why worry? I have to contest elections, but I am not worried. Alright, best wishes, thank you very much.