Modi rules out rethink on decisions on Art 370, CAA ‘despite pressure’

India never lacked resources, skills; needs to work with comprehensive mindset

17/02/2020

VARANASI, Feb 16: Ruling out any rethink on decisions on CAA and Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asserted that his government remains and will remain firm on the steps despite pressure from all sides.
"Be it the scrapping of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir or the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the country waited for decisions on these for years," he told a public meeting here during a day-long visit to his Lok Sabha constituency.
"These decisions were necessary in the interest of the nation. Duniya bhar ke saarey dabao ke bawjood, inn faislon par hum qayam hain aur qayam rahengey (Despite pressure from all sides, we remain firm on these decisions and will continue to remain firm," Modi said.
Provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded special powers to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, were abrogated by the government in August last year.
The prime minister's tough talk assumed significance in view of protests against the CAA in various parts of the country.
Citing certain key decisions of his government, Modi referred to the trust set up for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya and asserted that it would work "rapidly".
"A trust has been formed for the construction of a grand Ram temple in Ayodhya. This trust will work rapidly," he said.
He said that after setting up of the trust, the work on the construction of 'Ram dham' will start with fast speed and added that his government has also decided to transfer 67 acres of land to the trust.
The government had recently set up the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra on the Supreme Court's directive to the Union government to form a trust that can look into the construction and management of the temple.
The prime minister earlier launched or laid foundation of 50 projects worth Rs 1,254 crore in his Lok Sabha constituency.
He also flagged off IRCTC's 'Maha Kaal Express' through video link during his day-long visit to the city.
It will be the first overnight privately-run train in the country to connect three Jyotirling pilgrimage centres of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, and Ujjain and Omkareshwar in Madhya Pradesh.
The prime minister dedicated to the nation the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Memorial Centre and unveiled a 63-foot statue of the RSS ideologue -- the tallest statue of the leader in the country.
"The soul of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya give us encouragement. We are working for uplift of Dalits, deprived and others sections. And this is what Upadhyaya's 'Antyoday' says - to give all facilities to last beneficiary in the queue," Modi said.
He also inaugurated a 430-bed super-speciality government hospital here.
He said that in past few years, Rs 25,000 crore worth developmental projects have either completed or were going on in fast speed in Varanasi.
Roadway, highway, waterway and railway have been given top priority by the government and the Purvanchal Expressway work was going on at fast speed in Uttar Pradesh.
The prime minister also laid emphasis on better connectivity of heritage and religious sites, saying that tourism will be the main source of making the country 5 trillion dollar economy.
He said, "Our behaviour as a citizen will decide direction of the country in future. Country is not made by governments only, but values of people residing here."
Soon after his arrival here, Modi participated in the closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of the Shri Jagadguru Vishwaradhya Gurukul and released the translated version of the Shri Siddhant Shikhamani Granth in 19 languages and its mobile application.
Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minster Yogi Adityanath and Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa were present on the occasion.
Launching the 'Shri Siddhant Shikhamani Granth' Mobile App, the prime minister said it is a coincidence that the centenary celebrations are taking place at the beginning of a new decade and that this decade will once again establish India's role in 21st century in the world.
He said the digitisation of Shri Siddhant Shikhamani Granth via Mobile App will further strengthen the engagement with the younger generation and will also inspire their lives.
Modi suggested conducting an annual quiz competition on topics related to Granth, via this Mobile app.
He said translation of Granth in 19 languages will help in making it accessible to a wider public.
The prime minister said, "Our conduct as a citizen will determine the future of India, will decide the direction of a new India."
He said following the path shown by the saints, we have to fulfil the aspirations of our lives and continue to cooperate fully in nation building.
Modi appreciated people's contributions in creating awareness about cleanliness and taking the Swachhta Mission to each and every corner of the country.
He urged them to use 'Made-in-India' products.
He also asked everyone to participate in Jal Jeevan mission to make it a success.
The prime minister said a significant and visible improvement was made in cleaning the Ganga River. This, he said, could be achieved only because of the public participation.
He said under Namami Gange Programme, projects worth Rs 7,000 crores have been completed while work on projects worth Rs 21,000 crores is under progress.
Modi inaugurated 'Kashi Ek, Roop Anek', an arts and handicrafts exhibition, at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Hastkala Sankul here.
He evinced keen interest in the products on display as he went around several stalls and personally interacted with buyers and artisans coming from different countries, including the US, England and Australia.
'Kashi Ek Roop Anek' showcased products from over 10,000 artisans from all over Uttar Pradesh. There are 23 lakh artisans and weavers residing in Uttar Pradesh. Of them, about 35,800 artisans and 1.5 lakh weavers stay in Varanasi alone.
The Uttar Pradesh government had launched the ambitious scheme 'One District, One Product' (ODOP) in which one craft per district was identified.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India never lacked resources and skills but the nation needs to work with a comprehensive mindset.
"We have never lacked the resources and skills, just need to work with a comprehensive mindset. All that is needed is to bring this story in front of the world. Uttar Pradesh Institute of Design (UPID) will play a very big role in it," he said.
"It has always been the power of India that some special art and products have been associated with the identity of every region and every district here. This has been our tradition there for centuries. Our businessmen and traders have promoted it worldwide," Modi said after inaugurating 'Kashi Ek Roop Anek' programme here.
The Prime Minister continued said that the UPID helped more than 3500 artisans and weavers from 30 districts in the last 2 years.
"A thousand of artists have also been given tool kits to improve craft-related products... This effort to make the products of Uttar Pradesh reach the foreign markets and make them available on the worldwide online market, the whole country is going to benefit from this," he said.
"When the changing world, changing time, according to the changing demand, make necessary changes in these products too. For this, it is very important to provide training, financial help, new technology and marketing facilities to the people associated with these traditional industries," he said.
Modi said that there is an increase in exports from Uttar Pradesh in the last two years.
"Before 2014, could the weavers and exporters of UP communicate with investors online platforms like this? This was not possible, because there was no such platform... In the last two years, there is an increase in exports from UP. This growth has become a reality due to programmes like One District One Product and help extended to MSMEs," he said.
The Prime Minister said that the anti-dumping duty on the raw material of textiles has been scrapped.
"For decades people associated with textiles had been demanding this. Our government has completed this work. The National Technical Textile Mission has been started. Rs 1,500 crore will be spent on this. Infrastructure related to technical textile will be created," he said.
Modi said the Central government is planning to create investment clearance cell for the ease of investors.
"The government is planning to create investment clearance cell for the ease of investors. This will help investors to take information easily at the Centre and state levels ... The government will take necessary steps to make India $5 trillion economy. We will work together to make India manufacturing powerhouse," he said.
"For the first time, the Taxpayers' Charter is being prepared so that the wealth creators of the country do not face hardship. Tax collection is being faceless. To encourage manufacturing, the tax has been reduced to 15 per cent. Now India is among those few countries where corporate tax is so low," Prime Minister Modi said.
Modi said that a national logistics policy is being prepared for the first time in the country to create a single window e-logistics market, which will strengthen small scale industries.
"The introduction of GST has brought about a wide change in the country's logistics. Now this change is being strengthened further. A national logistics policy is being prepared for the first time in the country," he said.
"It will lead to the creation of a single-window e-logistics market. This will strengthen small scale industries and help in generating employment," added Modi.
"To empower MSMEs, the import of those products is being reduced which are not better than the products being made in India," he said.
He said the Centre has drawn a blueprint for the development of small and medium industries for the coming five years.
"In the Union Budget, special emphasis has been laid on manufacturing and the ease of doing business. MSMEs and start-ups are the big sources of employment," Prime Minister Modi said.

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