Finance
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today unveiled the statue of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on his death anniversary in Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. Union Home Minister also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of various development works of the Rajasthan government. Several dignitaries, including Rajasthan Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, were present on this occasion.
Addressing the event, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that today, on the occasion of the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji, a 21-foot-tall statue of Vajpayee Ji has been installed on this sacred land at a cost of over ₹1.5 crore. He mentioned that 944 development projects worth ₹5,755 crore across 15 districts were inaugurated and had their foundation stones laid today.
Shri Amit Shah said that while grand events marked the 80th Independence Day – as is customary – there was a significant change this time. For the first time in the 80 years since independence, ‘Vande Mataram’ was sung at the ramparts of the Red Fort and during Independence Day celebrations across the country. He said that during the freedom movement, hundreds of thousands of people embraced the gallows, endured bullets and lathi charges, and spent years in prison while chanting ‘Vande Mataram’ – the immortal words from the composition of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Shri Shah remarked that opposition parties had allowed ‘Vande Mataram’ to fade into oblivion out of a greed for vote-bank politics; however, on the occasion marking 150 years since the composition of ‘Vande Mataram’, Modi ji has breathed new life into it from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Union Home Minister said that during the Independence Day program organized at the headquarters of the main opposition party, a prominent leader of the party insulted ‘Vande Mataram’ by asking for it to be stopped midway, and the public will not forgive her for this. Shri Shah said that the opposition is not liking the immortal mantra and immortal song of Bankim Babu getting respect again after 80 years. He told the main leader of the opposition party that 140 crore people of the country are watching you. The people of this country will never forgive this sin committed by you. How can anyone even dream of leaving the song of ‘Vande Mataram’ incomplete?
Shri Amit Shah said that Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji walked on the path of nationalism right from his childhood, became a pracharak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, became a worker of the Jana Sangh and was elected as a Member of Parliament from Balrampur at the young age of just 33 years. He said that Atal Ji remained in the opposition for four decades, but his thoughts remained of nationalism and nation first, and his life was guided solely by these thoughts. He also went to jail, faced lathi charges, endured the atrocities of the ruling party, but never abandoned his principles. When Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ji became the Prime Minister, he was the first such Prime Minister of the country who had never been a member of the main opposition party.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that Atalji took several major decisions upon becoming Prime Minister. He transformed India into a nuclear power without yielding to global pressure and undertook the task of connecting every village with roads. He constructed national highways under the Golden Quadrilateral project and launched numerous other unique initiatives. Shri Shah said that, during his brief six-year tenure, one of Atalji’s most significant achievements was the establishment of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. Prior to this, there was no separate ministry dedicated to the country’s tribal communities. Atalji established the Ministry of Tribal Affairs for the first time; the result is that today, the daughter of a poor tribal family – Her Excellency the President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu – graces the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Shri Amit Shah stated that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has consistently championed the cause of tribal welfare. He increased the budget for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) Component from a mere ₹25,000 crore to ₹1,25,000 crore. He initiated the observance of Bhagwan Birsa Munda’s birth anniversary as ‘Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas’. Modi Ji appointed tribal leaders as Chief Ministers in Chhattisgarh, Odisha, and Arunachal Pradesh. He established museums dedicated to 10 tribal freedom fighters and set up 772 Eklavya Vidyapiths – an initiative originally launched by Atal ji. The Home Minister remarked that when Atal Ji became a journalist, he advanced nationalism through his pen; as a poet, he promoted patriotism through his words; and as Prime Minister, he championed national security and good governance. He never abandoned his principles, whether in power or in the opposition. Such rare leaders are born only once in a great while; that is why Atal Ji is always known as ‘Ajatshatru’ – one who has no enemies.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation stated that when Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi launched the ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’ scheme in Rajasthan, water was reaching only 11 lakh households in the state. He said that in Rajasthan, where mothers and sisters once had to fetch water from miles away, carrying multiple pots on their heads, the main opposition party provided water connections to 11 lakh households over 70 years, whereas Modi ji has provided them to 64 lakh households. He remarked that Modi ji has achieved six times of work in eight years compared to what the opposition party accomplished in 70 years; this is precisely what distinguishes Modi Ji.
Shri Amit Shah said that the Bhajan Lal Sharma government in Rajasthan has worked rapidly towards fulfilling its promises. He said that while Rajasthan was previously known for water scarcity, Shri Bhajan Lal ji has taken steps to quench the thirst of half the state by signing three major agreements. Shri Shah mentioned that these schemes would provide water to millions of people. He highlighted that the ‘Rising Rajasthan’ event attracted investments worth ₹35 lakh crore and led to the formulation of 36 new policies. Furthermore, 178,000 jobs have been provided through job fairs, and gas cylinders are being supplied for less than ₹450; gas cylinder subsidies totaling ₹1 thousand 128 crore have been disbursed so far. He added that by expanding the central government’s free medical treatment facility, the Bhajan Lal government has extended the benefits of the Pradhan Mantri-Mukhyamantri Ayush Arogya Yojana to 45 lakh people. The government has also introduced the ‘Lado Protsahan Yojana’ and launched a campaign to make the entire state lush and green.
Shri Amit Shah said that while the prominent opposition leaders in Rajasthan remain engaged in internal conflicts, meanwhile our party’s leaders respect the blessings of the people and remain committed to serving them. He said that Rajasthan is poised to make significant progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma.
Source: PIB
