admin, Author at Piyush Goyal

Interacting with Intellectuals, FKCCI & Kaasia Representatives, Bangalore

But, certainly I don’t wish to speak for long, but I would just like to lay the context in which I have had this opportunity to come here with my elder brother and interact with all of you.

Of course, today is the World Environment Day, I wish all of you well and clearly, the one big message that has come out in the last one week with events unfolding on the one hand in the United States of America, on the other hand, our own beloved Prime Minister in Germany, Spain, Russia, and then France. All through Europe, his travels, his engagements with international leaders have very-very very clearly demonstrated India’s leadership position, when it comes to tackling climate change, when it comes to addressing concerns of pollution of the environment. And, I think it is now a well established fact that what India spoke about years ago, in fact, probably 5000 years ago also, is now something which the whole world recognises. We respected the environment even 5000 years ago. After all, we prayed to the mountains, to trees, to rivers, forests, every living organism and in many cases even non-living organism, we respected as a country, as a culture, today the whole world is taking about that.

Paris rested on Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, sustainable lifestyles became a part of the Paris agenda. All thanks to the leadership that Prime Minister Modi gave. And, I am glad that as the World Environment Day is being celebrated the world over, people are also recognising the fact that what India is doing is far ahead of the curve, is something which the whole world recognises as probably the most important intervention. And, my own elder brother Ananth Kumar Ji today has been out on the streets planting trees the whole day. I must compliment him and I must compliment all the people of Bangalore for your support to this initiative.

Of course, Karnataka has a very special place in the country. Ananth Kumar Ji, if it wasn’t for that indelible ink you produce in Mysore, we wouldn’t even have free and fair elections in the country and I know this because when demonetisation was at its peak and we realised some people were misusing the facility to exchange cash, we thought of that indelible ink and we suddenly realised it is available nowhere else expect in Mysore. So really, very important role you play, other than the fact that even the national flag is probably produced only by Karnataka, the authorised version of the national flag.

The sad part is that on the one hand we have soldiers fighting to save the country and the unity and integrity of the country at the boarders in Kashmir and on the other hand, I don’t know if you, any of you saw on television today, an online portal has come out with an article by a so-called intellectual and as I was seeing on the television his thoughts, his views — a person whose name is Partha Bhattacharya or Partha Chatterjee or something, right! I thought Pako Chatterjee or something, I was a little confused because he seems to be more Pakistan-inclined than India-inclined. He should be probably renamed, I think as Pako Chatterjee. But when I read that on the television that one of portals is carrying an article, in which he has tried to compare our very revered Army General with the brutal General Dyer of Jallianwala Bagh, infamous for what he did in Jallianwala Bagh, it came to my mind that I have to address intellectuals at 4 o’clock, I will have to be really very-very careful because this word intellectual is a very dangerous word now-a-days. But, as Anant Kumar Ji just now told me, we have a very illustrious set of people, we have very illustrious citizens of Bangalore here today. And, thank you very much for sparing time.

We will have much more of an interactive session, but I just want to share with you the thinking behind this government that Prime Minister Modi has led in the last three years. Many of you will recall 2014, the kind of negativity that we had in the entire country. There was a feeling of despondency, economy was failing, growth was down to about 4 or 4 and half percent, inflation was in double digits, fiscal deficit was at 4 and half percent, current account deficit was at 4%, interest rates were sky rocketing. In that situation when Prime Minister Modi took charge of the country’s economy and the situation was as grim as we inherited in 2014, Prime Minister Modi had two paths ahead of him. One path was where he could easily have done some quick win solutions, some sops for the people, made everything look and feel very good in the short run. Possibly, made everybody feel that oh! What a great person he is, he just come and flooded the market with money, flooded the market with cash and everybody would have got a false sense of happiness and prosperity. But, these things are usually very short lived and they cause damage to the economy for years and decades to come after that.

I will give you a case in point. When in 2008 there was a global crisis, the then government, the government led by the Congress at that point of time in Delhi decided to let the fiscal deficit slide from 2.9% to 6.1%, almost double. And, basically what is fiscal deficit? The government is borrowing money, you are printing notes and flooding the market with currency — with money which certainly created a false illusion of great prosperity. We had growth rates as high as 9% in 2008-09 — two years — but the cost of that misdemeanour of that point of time, the nation had to suffer for 5 years after that and would have had to suffer for many more years but for the sage leadership that Prime Minister Modi gave to this government post 2014.

This temporary happiness is at the cost of high inflation, because when you are printing currency and you are letting the fiscal deficit go haywire, it correspondingly results in high inflation. High fiscal deficit, high inflation together cause higher interest rates. When interest rates become high, may be a small section of society, relatively richer people may enjoy the fruits of that. Because they are the one with assets, they are the one with wealth in their hands. But it is usually the poor of the country which suffers the brunt of high inflation, high interest rates. And, this sense of prosperity remains limited to a few people at the top. This is something more like a top-down approach.

Prime Minister Modi wanted to work differently. His approach was what Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay, whose birth centenary we are all celebrating this year, had visualised, had envisioned more than 50 years ago, when he spoke about happiness of an individual, he spoke about two important things; a) a person cannot be happy only with money — economic or monetary wealth. A person wants comprehensive happiness, all elements of a person’s life, it could be your family, it could be your culture, your tradition, your neighbours, your society, your workplace, your recreation, your leisure, everything put together determines your happiness. After all, Bhutan is not the world’s happiest country because it has large amount of wealth. That large amount of wealth is probably in Europe, in USA. Bhutan is the happiest country because of its strong traditional values, its heritage, its culture; the people are intrinsically happy. And, that is the kind of nation that Prime Minister Modi wanted to bring in this country. That is the kind of aspiration of people of India, and by people of India it means the entire population of 125 crore people that he was trying to address.

And, second was the concept of the Antyodaya that Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay ji had articulated, that the nation’s resources will first go to serve the person at the bottom of the pyramid. This government is a government of the poor. It is a government dedicated to the welfare of the socially and marginalised sections of the society. This government is committed to the farmers of the country. This government is committed to make it a better place for women, for the youth of this country. Because, we genuinely believe that the bottom-up approach is what is going to help this country grow sustainably, grow over decades and unless the fruits of development reach out to every section of society; the farmers, the labour, women, youth, sections of society which for decades and centuries have been deprived, unless we really reach benefits of development across the country to every section the country can not be happy, the country cannot prosper. And, for that Prime Minister Modi did not want to take the short cut, the short path of the temporary happiness, temporary prosperity. He was looking to create a foundation, a foundation on which the country can set decades of prosperity. A foundation where we set things right from the very root, so that for years and years after that, you and me and our families, and our children after us can really find happiness in this country.

Towards that end, if one can take an analogy, I don’t know if there is any builder amongst all of you here, anybody who works in the real estate sector. You know in the real estate sector and I am taking this analogy just to make the thinking of this government simple for all of you, if you have to construct a 4 or 5-storey building, you will all appreciate, you need to make a small foundation on which you can make 5-storey structure. It can be done very quickly because you have to dig a small hole, make a foundation and today with MIVAN technology and all of that, a five-storey building you could probably construct in 6 or 8 months or may be a year, very comfortably. So all the ladies who own flats in that structure will get their keys quickly and they can go and occupy it and गृह प्रवेश करके everybody can be happy. But, after all, in a five storey structure you can only accommodate less people than there are in this room also.

What this country needs is skyscrapers. What this country needs is prosperity, not for one year, two years, five years, but, for the next 50 years, for the next 100 years. What this country needs is not homes for 50 or 100 people in a small building. What this country needs is homes for millions of people who are homeless today. What this country does not only need and Bengaluru gets 24×7 power or Mumbai or Delhi or Chennai. What this country doesn’t need is only all of us get 24 hours power, not that our businesses enjoy 24 hours power. What this country needs is those 20 crore people who still don’t have power, should also get the benefit of power and 24 hours power just like your children and my children get.

And, therefore, this government decided that what we will do is a solid foundation, a foundation which can withstand the worst of shocks. And, obviously, if you are creating a foundation for a 100 or a 200 storey building, then your hole has to be really deep, you have to dig really deep into the ground before you can even start making that foundation. When you dig deep into the ground a lot of muck comes up. That muck also has to be handled, that muck also cannot be left loitering around. Somebody will say, स्वच्छ भारत की propagation करने आया हूँ मैं, but, really you cannot leave the mucker around, you have to park that muck, उसको भी ठिकाने लगाना पड़ता है, get rid of that muck.

Of course, when we try to get rid of that muck then we are called that we are doing witch hunting or we are trying to settle scores. That is an unfortunate thing! Today, if somebody is caught with his hand in the till trying to steal something, he says, no-no this is political vendetta. Somebody else gets caught doing illegal transactions in income-tax, he says, no, you are trying to muzzle the press. I don’t know where all these excuses and alibis come from? The investigative agencies have to do their job. The muck has to be sorted out, it cannot be just left lying around. But, when you dig a deep hole you take out that muck, you sort out that muck, then you plan a solid foundation. When you make a solid foundation, you have to design it well, you have to execute it well, construct it well. After all, you don’t want a foundation afterwards in which it is so porous that water gets into it. You want it to really withstand the worst of earthquakes, the worst of problems, right! You create a solid foundation and all of this certainly can’t be done with the speed of a 5 storey building. You create a solid foundation and when that solid foundation is in place then the real estate friend in the front will tell you getting each floor, each storey constructed is very simple. Almost every 15 days, 10 days you can make one-one storey on top of that, if your foundation is strong. If you start with a weak foundation then just like we have buildings falling in Bhayandar near Mumbai, collapsing like ninepins even brand new buildings and now in Kolkata also. Then you will have that type of a problem.

This government did not ever or in the words of Arnab Goswami, never-ever took a decision on political considerations. Anant Ji will probably remember, there have been so many occasions when almost all of us in that cabinet room unanimously wanted to oppose a particular decision — I think the cameras are here, I should be careful about what I am saying — but, very often there was a decision to be taken which was politically not correct; good for the nation, good for the people of India, but, when with an impending elections are round the corner, we would say Sir, let’s delay it little bit , थोड़ा बाद में करेगें, अभी करेगें तो क्या message जायेगा, चुनाव में क्या परिणाम होगा?

But, Prime Minister Modi was steadfast, is it good for the country? Is it good for the people? Yes, if it is, then we will do it, elections will come and go. And, elections in this country happen every three months-six months, so if we keep waiting for that then we will become like the previous 10 years government of UPA only. Ultimately, some hard decisions will have to be taken. If we want to reform this country then you will have to perform. If you perform that is the only way you can transform this economy. I am borrowing from our colleague Venkaiah Nadiu Ji’s style a little bit, who is your Hon’ble MP from Karnataka — of course, he was, now he has gone to Rajasthan.

But, truly, that has been the guiding philosophy of this government. Do what is right, do what is good for the nation and the people at large and do it when it is required to be done, not necessarily waiting for an opportune time, when it is politically going to suit your connivance. But, whatever you do should be sustainable, should outlast your and my lives, should help this country for generations, should help the youth of India stand on their own feet, should make the women of India feel secure, should give equal opportunity to every section of society, even the sections who for decades and centuries have suffered in this country; the schedule castes, the backward classes who for years and years, unfortunately, have been disadvantaged, have been deprived and make sure the benefits of development reach every section of society.

After all, this government is not elected by one set of people and has to serve only one set of people. This is a government which has to serve a 125 crore Indians uniformly across the country and irrespective of who runs a particular state, who runs a particular local body, our effort has been to take the fruits of our work, fruits of our development, right down to the last man across the country.

In the morning, while I was addressing the Press, I just remembered about one of my own experiences, just to highlight what we mean by serving a 125 crore people, as Coal Minister and I don’t know why I was given this portfolio, it was the most ticklish and dangerous portfolio to hold in this government soon after the Coal Gate scam and what not, we have just had convictions also happening in that old scam. But, very early on in my work as the Coal Minister, after the Supreme Court cancelled 204 coal blocks and once we had initiated a very transparent process of auctions so that the natural resources of the country are not given away for free to friends and relatives and party leaders, and MPs, they are actually given to the people of India whoever bids the best value, everybody has an equal opportunity and the money that comes out of this auctions go to the state governments to serve the people of India. Along with that, I also had to give coal blocks to the state governments.

There were six operating coal blocks in my own state of Maharashtra – 6 of them and from those coal blocks to the power plants of Maharashtra government the distance is 20-30-40 Kms, so if they would get that coal from those blocks power costs in Maharashtra could have fallen at least by Rs. 1 a unit — at least, nearly 25-30%, the cost could have fallen per unit of electricity, though they also have to get coal from far away. But, if I had done that, Karnataka would have had to bring coal, instead of from Western Coal Fields Limited near Nagpur from even farther away, somewhere in Orissa or Jharkhand or somewhere. Which means we would have reduced — we as in, I am being parochial in that, that my state Maharashtra — would have saved one rupee for every unit of power that they consume, but, probably, Karnataka would have landed-up paying two rupees for every unit of power more than you consume — two rupees more per unit, become the distance would have become that much farther, the greater the distance, there is an exponential loss because you have losses on the way, you have longest-largest stocks to carry, variety of reason, it would have cost as I calculated on Karnataka’s power consumption, about 1 rupees 75 paisa or two rupees.

But, Prime Minister Modi’s direction was clear, do what is right for the nation, not for one state or the other. Maharashtra was a BJP government in the state, Karnataka was a congress government. Maharashtra right from Chief Minister down everybody was ready to, I don’t know, I can’t say kill me कल को ला के मुझे कुछ हो गया तो देवेंद्र के ऊपर action हो जाएगा but, honestly, he was, the whole state of Maharashtra, editorials were written against me, front page articles, that I should give those blocks to Maharashtra. I remember, at one point they even told me तेरे को वापिस चुन के नहीं भेजेंगे राज्य सभा में, and my term got over last year.

Of course, at that time Ananth Kumar Ji had offered that he will send me to Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. But, the right decision was that these blocks were serving the people of Karnataka earlier and should have gone to Karnataka and that is a decision Prime Minister Modi’s government took. And, they continue to be with Karnataka. Maharashtra has also appreciated the point of view in the larger context, in the larger scheme of things, so that everybody can be benefit rather than one benefiting at the cost of the other. And, that has been the approach of this government in a variety of the decision. We have had to take decisions for farmers’ welfare, we have had to take decisions to promote industry in the state, we have had to take decisions for the youth, for women, for the deprived sections of society, in every decision we have worked in a principle of zero discrimination, fair and equal opportunity to all sections of society. And, clearly, if you have a look at where this country stands 3 years into the Modi government, we stand proud and tall in the comity of nations worldwide.

Today, India’s leadership on international fora is respected, is welcomed. The whole world is looking up to Prime Minister Modi to give leadership to our efforts, to promote growth internationally, to promote a better environment internationally, to bring about peace and cooperation and create and greater engagement amongst nations internationally, to fight against corruption and black money, not only in our own countries but through support of each other globally. Many of you may recall, at a G-20 Summit in Australia two years ago, it was Prime Minister Modi who insisted that the world will have to do a collective effort to stop the problem of money flows and money laundering internationally. And, that was accepted and it has now become an engagement where all the countries of the world are together working to eliminate flow of money or ease of flow of money from different jurisdictions, particularly illicit money.

In Paris, when Prime Minster Modi talked of sustainable lifestyles, reducing waste in the developed world, we were able to get that into the Paris Agreement, so that the developed world also understands that they cannot waste electricity, they cannot waste food, they cannot have wasteful consumption of products and at the same time hope to save the world, save the planet.

This kind of bold and decisive leadership has been the hallmark of the Modi Government for last 3 years, both internationally and at home. Today, we have a government that is willing to take very tough decisions in national interest, which resolves issues which had been pending for long time, years and years, there have been issues which have been pending. Very recently, in the last session, through Hon’ble Minister Shri Anant Kumar Ji’s very-very, I can even call it nimble footed approach, but very sharp understanding of parliamentary processes, he has been even able to get the most contentious Enemy Property Bill passed, which has saved lakhs of crores of rupees for India. And, look at the number of the laws that this government has passed unanimously in both Houses of Parliament — Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. He may remember them more better than me. But, GST, one of the most contentious tax reform, but, probably the most historical reform ever attempted in India passed unanimously from both houses. The Bangladesh Boundary dispute passed unanimously from both houses. I think Arbitration Act…. There is such a series of laws that have been passed unanimously — the Judicial Accountability Bill — so may issues on which to bring about a consensus amongst all parties.

This session was historical, 117% performance of Lok Sabha and 109 or something of Rajya Sabha. We are so used to watch out the full sessions, where zero work used to happen against that under the able leadership of Parliamentary Affairs and Chemicals & Fertiliser Minister Shri Ananth Kumar, 117% efficiency in Lok Sabha, 109 in Rajya Sabha where we are in a minority, it has truly been a phenomenal session. But, overall, this government has demonstrated that it is looking for a long term vision for India. We are working to provide by 2022 when this country turns 75 years, a home for every citizen of this country, with electricity, water, toilet, a road leading up to the home, quality healthcare and education in the vicinity. An effort that every citizen of this county gets a certain reasonable standard of living. And, this cannot happen through a top-down approach, those days are gone. Today, if we spend even 20 thousand crore rupees and set up a large steel plant or 13-15 thousand crore rupees and set up a large power plant, you will create 5 thousand jobs – 7 thousand jobs. But, in the bottom-up approach of Prime Minister Modi, when you give 7 crore beneficiaries over 3 lakh crore rupees of Mudra loans under the Mudra Yojna; loans which are ranging from 10 thousand, 5 thousand rupees to 10 lakh rupees, no guarantor; no collateral security; no interest lien, and at low interest, you don’t have to go to money lender. Today a common rickshaw puller, an e-rickshaw driver, a carpenter, a mason, a small retail shopkeeper, a women wanting to start a tailoring class, another women wanting to do tailoring, sew some clothes and make some money, somebody wants to run a Charka to make Khadi, somebody wants to start a small security company, an electrical appliances showroom or a service company for setting up solar panels, all of these different vocations, entrepreneurial ideas are being given wings under this government.

Today, the youth of this country, are moving away from being job seekers to becoming job creators. After all, Skill-India, Stand-Up India, Digital India, this whole JAM trinity — Jan Dhan-Aadhaar and Mobile — this JAM trinity is being used to good effect, on the one hand to make sure the subsidies go directly to the beneficiaries into their account through a direct benefit transfer, that has itself saved some 49650 crore rupees of the government of India in the last 3 years and that money again goes to serve the poor. Peoples’ Participation; Jan Dhan Accounts being opened for 28 crore people, families who never had a bank account are being included the financial inclusion architecture. Mobile telephones are there in the nook and corner the country, across the country today.

We are working to ensure that Aadhaar numbers which are now about 99% of all adults, last 10-12 crore children and minors are now being covered. And, through this trinity how can we empower the youth of this country, the women of this country to stand on their own feet. How can we empower the farmers of this country — today, a question was asked in the press conference about what we did for the farming community? I would think this audience here relatively has less interest in farmers, but if one looks at the holistic view of all that we have done for farmers, who are really the backbone of our economy, in terms of their insurance : प्रधानमंत्री फसल बीमा योजना, — 100% loss being insured, low premium, even at only 33% level of loss also he gets eligible for insurance, the Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana, Irrigation facility is being given a new thrust to complete old projects. The fantastic success, Ananth Kumar Ji, has had through the Neem coating of urea, by which urea which was meant for the farmers used to be illegally diverted to the industry, subsidised urea going to profit the industrialists, but the farmer having to come out on streets because he never got urea on time. I think in 3 years there has not been a single occasion where a farmer had to be stressed for urea, urea has been in abundance supply at prices which are 40% less. So government subsidies also have come down. Credit for the farmer for the first time, for purchase of urea. And, now because of Neem coating that urea is no more good for the industry, but, it adds 10% more efficiency for the farmer, so he will consume 10% less urea, get the same outcome and has urea available at cheaper prices than what it was 3 years ago. For the first time, Ananth Kumar ji even reduced the price of urea. It has been a holistic approach to make the farmers dream come true, to really take him to doubling his income by 2022.

It has been the government that is focussed on doing a root cause analysis, carefully prioritising the issues before the nation. After the root cause analysis finding out whether things needs out to be changed, the process, procedure, laws — over 1100 laws have been scraped, irrelevant laws. So our approach is not that if somebody comes to Ananth Kumar Ji or to me with a problem, we are not trying to sort out his or her problems, we are finding out what caused that problem and setting that problem right. So, that 30 other people in this room who may have a similar problem, won’t have to come to Ananth Kumar or to Piyush Goyal. So the problem solving is through procedures, processes, empowerment rather than individual case solving.

Transparency, of course, has been the hallmark of this government, all our actions are put out in public domain, as he said, information. Every year we come to the people with a report card of what we have done. Mann ki baat — every month Prime Minister shares his ideas, his vision of a new India, he talks about janbhagidaari; peoples involvement. After all, this a government of the people, by the people, for the people, but if we have to serve the people then the people will also have to serve themselves. Nobody helps unless you help yourself first. Swachhta cannot happen because Modi Ji says it or because Ananth Kumar Ji goes and sweeps, we will all have to be conscious about Swacchta. Digital India won’t be a success if we don’t accept the digital payments in our shops or showrooms or businesses. Corruption cannot be eliminated unless we all decide we’ll not pay a bribe; we will become whistleblowers if somebody asks us for a bribe. All of these things can best be done when all of us work together as a team — the Team India of 125 crore people working together for a better and brighter future for the youth of this country. Working that the new India that Prime Minister Modi is working towards, is a India where prosperity is there, not poverty. It is an India where there is no discrimination — equal opportunity for all. It is an India where women feel safe, where the youth have opportunities to prosper in life, to do better in life, to stand on their own feet, to be independent. It is an India where you can truly say that poverty is history and well-being of 125 crore Indians is the collective responsibility and the outcome of the collective efforts of all of society.

Just like each one of you and I suspect most of you in this room must have joined the Yojna — the Give It Up Yojna — where you gave up your LPG cylinder subsidy, so that a poor woman could get a free LPG connection out of your support, you savings and her life, her health could be better. Just in that same sprit, I request each one and every one of you to participate in the efforts of this government wholeheartedly, work as a team, be a part of this change that we want to see in this country. They often say, be the change that you want the world to be. You can make a difference to the future of this world. And, ladies & gentlemen, I invite each one of you, to become those ambassadors of this change that this country, that the people of this country are yearning for.

I have no doubt in my mind, an empowered India, an India which finds its true place in the comity of nations as a superpower, is the collective dream of all of us in this room. Some of us have been given a responsibility to work towards that. But, we cannot fulfil that dream unless each one of us here becomes a part of that dream, becomes a part of this collaboration between the people of India and all the pillars of democracy, be it the media, be it the judiciary, be it the bureaucracy and be it the political establishment. We will all have to collectively play our role honestly.

It is a government which has not had a single scam. Of course, for Bangalorites it is very difficult, you are used to hearing about corruption regularly on a daily basis. Sometimes there is a flyover where there is a problem, sometimes there is issues about the Power-Purchase Agreement. Every time I come to Bangalore I have been given a long list of issues that are plaguing the city. Possibly which means you really need a change in this state also very soon and you will get an opportunity very soon to do that. Well, sand mining is something which affects all of us actually, because when we go to construct our home, our office, even the infrastructure that is required to be done, this sand mafia and this sand mining costs are ultimately loaded to all of us. When there is a scam in steel industry, it affects all of us directly or indirectly, our cars, our vehicles, our homes, our offices, our surgical instruments for doctors, everything gets affected. So, please remember that a flyover, a bad flyover or an expensive flyover is ultimately our tax-payer money that is going into the docks, into the boondocks.

So let’s collectively rise, let our conscience rise to take part in this revolution that is happening in this country — a country which is today becoming a strong economy, one of the fastest growing economies in the world; inflation is down, interest rates are down, fiscal deficit is down, current account deficit is down, growth is up. In every parameter, the micro economy of this country has been strengthened. Today, we are an economy the world looks up to. You go to Europe, America even at 1% growth they are excited — they think that, Oh! We have come out of recession, we have come out of sub-zero growth into 1% growth. You can be proud, you’re growing at 7% plus. So we are living in a time where India is setting the rules of the game internationally. We are all here at a time when India and Prime Minister Modi is giving global leadership to the world. It is proud moment for each one of us. But, that proud moment will be incomplete till every citizen of this country gets a better quality of life, we take care of his basic needs, his basic amenities.

And, I appeal to each one of you to join the efforts of this government and collectively let’s do for this country, what I believe is our rightful duty, let’s all work to make our city, our state, our nation a better place to live in — a wonderful place to live in. Three years of this government, we have been able to do a lot, but we have still lots more to do. After all, this is a journey, in this journey when we work together we will go very far, if we work alone we won’t reach very far. So, I invite all of you to be a part of this journey, to join Ananth Kumar Ji and me, strengthen the hands of Prime Minister Modi and, collectively, make a difference to the future of India.

Thank you very much.

Speaking at Press Meet, Bangalore

… that I got an opportunity to come to Bangalore and address you this morning. I have just planted some trees outside the BJP office. And, in one sense, today India has taken global leadership of protecting the planet. The honourable Prime Minister was at the forefront of the Paris Accord that was finalized in December 2015, ever since then India has been making rapid strides to protect the environment. And, in one way, as we are, all of us are going all across the country; we are also connecting with the people of India in the same way as we believe the people of India are connecting with a better planet, a better future for the next generation.

The Prime Minister has just come back from a very successful tour where almost all the 4 major countries have expressed solidarity along with Prime Minister Modi to further the cause of the environment, be it Germany, be it Paris/France, be it Russia, be it Spain. All have demonstrated that the world will work together for a better future for the people of the world, and for a better planet that we wish to leave behind for the next generation. As the Prime Minister said, he is working for future generations. It’s not about what is decided in Paris or what one country does or does not do.

So, I would like to begin by complimenting Prime Minister Modi for the global leadership that he is giving to addressing the serious challenge of climate change. And, on this very auspicious World Environment Day, we rededicate ourselves to working for a better planet for the next generation, for the future of this country.

We have completed 3 years in government. These have been 3 years where we saw rapid progress being made on a variety of areas. And, when we were sitting down to list out what we should convey to the people of India at the conclusion of 3 years, we actually came up with so many issues that it was running into a few thousand serious decisions and actions taken by the government in a variety of areas across the country. We, therefore, thought of the outcomes or the themes on which this government or Prime Minister Modi in the centre has focused its energies.

And I would like to briefly share with you the 11 outcomes or themes on which this government has demonstrated outstanding leadership and demonstrated work, which truly reflect the ideology of the party, the ideology first articulated by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay whose birth centenary we are celebrating this year. As Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay said, the nation’s resources should first go to serve the poorest of the poor. The person at the bottom of the pyramid has the right to the nation’s resources first. That has been the central theme of the government of Prime Minister Modi, and if you will see the work of the last 3 years in benchmark to these 11 themes that I will share with you, you will realize the significant work that has happened to make India truly a global leader, to make India an economy which is amongst the fastest growing economies in the world, to bring about macro-economic stability, to bring about a government that truly is outcome-oriented and serves the people of India, serves the poor of India, serves the farmers of India, serves the women and youth of India so that we can meet the aspirations of the people and have a better tomorrow for the people of India.

We have seen a decisive and bold government, which has been willing to take decisions and get the country out of the policy paralysis that we had inherited in 2014. This government has not fought shy to make path-breaking reforms, reforms which are transformational in nature, and long-pending issues, issues which were not decided for years and years have been acted upon under this government, be it the fight against black money, the Benami Properties Act, as you are all aware, was passed in 1988, but for 28 years was not operationalized till Prime Minister Modi’s government operationalized it.

Issues in the power sector which were stuck for years and years were resolved during the last 3 years. We have been able to show serious actions against truant neighbours like Pakistan through our surgical strikes. Decisions like demonetization, which many have called the most bold and far-reaching reform measure that has ever been taken in independent India could only have been taken by a bold and decisive leader like Prime Minister Modi.

One Rank-One Pension, which gives our ex-servicemen, the people who have served this nation nobly and honourably, respect and fair treatment on their pensions is an issue, which for almost four decades was pending. The Bangladesh border dispute and the fencing of the border, the agreement with the Bangladesh government, could not be decided for years and years. Prime Minister Modi was able to bring finality to that.

And, as you are all aware, from 1st July, we will have the roll-out of GST again a decision which for years was not being resolved but due to the perseverant efforts of Prime Minister Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, we have been able to bring consensus amongst all the states of the country, which by itself is a near impossible task. While I can understand getting consensus even amongst the national mainstream parties, but to get a party in the Northeast, which is almost opposing every decision of this government, a large state in the east, also to come around and then most importantly, to get a government in the capital which has almost decided to abdicate its responsibilities of governance also to come around I think is a fair measure of how this government has been inclusive, how it has taken all viewpoints on board and finally passed GST successfully.

This is a government that is committed to empowering the poor of this country, to empowering the rural areas with better welfare. We have transformed various initiatives to make the benefits of government programmes reach the poorest of the poor. You are all aware that through our housing for all programme by 15th August, 2022, when the country turns 75, we are committed to make sure that every poor man in this country, every citizen of this country has a home, has a shelter on his head, which will have electricity, water, good toilet facility, road leading up to his home, good healthcare and education in the vicinity.

We truly believe that unless we take development to the villages of India we will not be able to look for a better future for India. India lives in its villages, and this government through the Jan Dhan account, Aadhar and Mobile trinity, the JAM trinity, is taking development and taking welfare measures of the government to the true beneficiaries, the socially and marginally deprived sections of society to the poor, to the women, directly to them. And our efforts have yielded almost 2 lakh crores of subsidies going directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries, also resulting in a saving of almost 50,000 crores, which money is further being used to serve the poor and rural areas even better.

You all recall, at one point of time, there was a talk of Rs 100 coming out of Delhi government and only Rs 15 reaching the true beneficiary. That was the statement made by a former Prime Minister. Sadly, that government or his party governments after that did not do anything to correct the situation. The BJP-led NDA government, headed by Prime Minister Modi, is focusing to make sure that when Rs 100 leaves Delhi, how we can ensure that every rupee goes to serve the poor, through financial empowerment, financial inclusion of the poor and through the Jan Dhan-Aadhar-Mobile trinity.

Our efforts are to reform the economy in a way that it truly serves the poor of India. If you want to transform the future of India, the lives of the poor of India, reform cannot be insensitive. And, therefore, every one of our reform measures is focused on reaching benefits to the poorest of poor. Our mantra being reform to transform, and when we transform, we can only do that by good performance. So Perform, Reform and Transform is the mantra of this government.

This is a government for the poor, of the poor and by the poor. We are working for the welfare of all sections of society and several measures over the last 3 years, particularly, the financial inclusion of the poor, the decision to demonetize high value currency notes so that it’s a decisive strike against corruption, against black money, something, which has been eating into the vitals of India. The BHIM app, on which we have already seen 2 crore downloads, by which we want to connect the commonest, the common man on the street with the digital revolution that is happening globally. All of these measures – direct benefit transfer to the poor of India, significant interest subvention schemes so that every citizen of India can own his own house. As you may be aware that loans up to 6 lakh rupees, which are taken by the people below a certain threshold income level, are receiving 6.5% interest subvention for 20 years.

Today, as you are aware, thank to the strong measures taken by the government to control inflation, interest rates on housing loans are down to 8.5%, out of which 6.5% the central government gives subsidy, so that the poorest of the poor can also own his own house. Loans up to 9 lakh are given 4% interest subsidy; loans up to 12 lakh are given 3% interest subsidy, so that all the middle class can also own their own house. So the effort of this government is that how we can take benefits of the government schemes to the common man and help them lead a better quality of life. Empowering women is one of the foremost programmes of this government, because we believe that Naari Shakti can only truly bring development to this country.

You will be happy to know that under the Mudra Yojana where almost Rs 3 lakh crore worth of loans have been disbursed to about 7 crore beneficiaries in the last two years alone. Almost 70% of these loans have been given to women entrepreneurs. Our government believes that India is a land of job creators and not job seekers. We believe that the innate tendency of every Indian is to be an entrepreneur, to develop his own business, to become self-employed, to become self-reliant, to get empowered through incomes which he generates.

I don’t think the way technologies are moving in the world, the way the whole ecosystem in the world is changing, the top-down approach will bring success to India. That is an approach that post-liberalisation in 1991, was attempted to create more jobs, to create more incomes for the people. Sadly, the top-down approach has failed. Prime Minister Modi’s government is working on a bottom-up approach, we believe that as we empower the people with skill development, with low-cost loans, very low-interest loans, more and more people, through Startup India, Stand Up India, Skill India, Mudra Yojana, will be empowered to become self-reliant, self-trained. They will create their own entrepreneurial businesses.

And, after all, the 7 crore beneficiaries of Mudra Loan have all in their own way through entrepreneurship become job creators rather than just job seekers.

The Ujjwala Yojana is one of the most powerful ways to revolutionize the lives of our women, particularly, the poor. More than 2,15,00,000 free LPG connections have been given to the women of India, particularly, the poor households saving them from smoke, which otherwise was harming the health of our sisters and mothers. There were studies which showed that almost 400 cigarette equivalent smoke was being taken in by women who were using smoke chulhas. Through the free LPG gas connection, we have been able to empower the poorest of the poor to get the benefit of LPG cylinders. It’s a caring government that cares for Indians all over the world as it cares for Indians in India.

We saw that when there was a crisis in Yemen. When there was a crisis in Libya. Wherever in the world, when there is a crisis in Tamil Nadu, our fisherman get caught in Sri Lanka or there is a crisis in Pakistan, like we have addressed the Kulbhushan Jadhav case where we have taken it up at the highest level in the International Court of Justice in Hague.

This is a government that leaves no stone unturned and every Indian is precious for this government. This government cares for the 125 crore Indians in India or living anywhere in the world. It is a visionary government that is focused on securing a good future for the youth of India. As I mentioned earlier, with the 2 lakh crore rupees disbursed through the direct benefit transfer, we have saved almost 49,560 crores of leakages of government subsidy money, which is helping the government serve the poor with availability of more funds. You are all aware that the economy was in a terrible state when this government came in 2014. Inflation was in double-digit, fiscal deficit was over 4 and a half per cent, interest rates were very high. You are aware that there was a lot of leakages in the subsidy schemes, the current account deficit was nearly 4%, in almost every respect we inherited a broken economy.

In the last three years, through the persistent efforts of Prime Minister Modi, Finance Minister Mr Jaitley and the central government, we have been able to bring about a great deal of macroeconomic stability in the country. Inflation rates from double-digit are down to some 3.1% in the last figures that came out, under 4% inflation consistently. Interest rates have fallen significantly, as I said earlier, today a housing loan is available at 8 and a half per cent. On top of that you get interest subvention. Interest rates, the base rates of banks have fallen by over 2%. Current account deficit last year was down to 3.5%, in the current year it will be 3.2%. Current account deficit which was over 4% was brought down last year to only .7 %. This year we may actually have a current account surplus.

In every aspect, this economy has been strengthened, from a 4% growth we are up to over 7% growth now, poised to go up to 8% in the years to come, and clearly, in a situation where globally economies are collapsing. Recently, I was in Europe, when they achieved 1% growth they are very excited that we have started achieving growth from a negative growth perspective, whereas India has consistently improved its performance and is growing strength to strength.

Today, India is providing global leadership. I started by our leadership in the environment in the fight against climate change, but if you will see in space research, we are providing global leadership for the first time 104 satellites were released at one shot at one time in one flight. We have taken the lowest cost satellite to Mars. We have been able to start a South Asia satellite which will help to serve the entire region in terms of cutting edge technology on solar, on wind power India is at the forefront. On the LED revolution, our energy efficiency programme is being discussed world over as the fastest and most efficient programme anywhere in the world to promote LEDs. So, in one sense, today brand India is rising rapidly and the world is taking note of India’s leadership, of India’s progress and India’s development.

As you might have read recently, for the first time our per capita income has crossed 1 lac rupees in the last year that has just gone by. Prosperous farmers can only lead to a prosperous India. We have a large part of India which is dependent on farming and our government is focused on ensuring that by 2022, we double the income of every farmer. A variety of initiatives and steps have been taken across the country by the government. Our Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana for the first time ensures 100% compensation in the event of any drought or any mishap that a farmer faces.

In fact, Karnataka has been facing problems with the monsoon, there is drought in Karnataka this year. All those farmers whom the state government would have included, would have encouraged to become part of the Pradhan Mantra Fasal Bima Yojana will be saved from the misery of drought. And, we would encourage farmers all across the country to join the Pradhan Mantra Fasal Bima Yojana, the premiums have been kept very low and you will be happy to know that last year almost twice the number of farmers and amount of insurance was done and in the current year we hope to further increase the coverage under Pradhan Mantra Fasal Bima Yojana. It is a universal coverage and I think all the farmers of India will benefit if they join this programme.

Similarly, soil health cards has been given a big focus. Over 6 crore soil health cards have been distributed and we continue to train farmers across the country for better utilisation of fertilisers, using information through the soil health card to care, to improve the productivity of the farmers going for better irrigation, going for.. or the investments in irrigation through the Pradhan Mantri Sinchai Yojana have been expanded in the last three years. And, we would look at better quality farming so that productivity can improve, and the crops can get a better yield for the farmers of India. Calibrated with the lower inflation, the minimum support prices in the last three years have been increased, far more than increased in the past calibrated for inflation in a low inflation scenario. And I am sure that we are well on our path to ensuring that our farmers’ income can be doubled by 2022.

The youth of India are in the centre stage of this government’s policies. Yuva Shakti is being harnessed for a new India tomorrow. We are focusing on skill development, more than 22 lac youth have received skill development, to empower them to be able to stand on their own feet, to be self-reliant. We believe the youth of India today are looking for opportunities to become entrepreneurs and, therefore, the Mudra Yojna where loans up to Rs 10 lacs are given at very low rate of interest without collateral, without any additional security, have helped millions of people become entrepreneurs, to become self-reliant through skill India, through Start-up India, through Stand-up India, particularly, in places like Bangalore where we have a large pool of IT entrepreneurs. We are focusing our energies to support the youth of India, to bring new technologies, new ideas to the fore.

Finally, this is a government which is incorruptible. You are all aware that not a single allegation of corruption could be put on the central government, particularly, when you are in Bengaluru, which is a city, which is continuously plagued with corruption scandals of the Karnataka government. I think you will appreciate the huge value that a government that Prime Minister Modi is leading which is an incorruptible government, which believes in the highest standards of probity and transparency. All our decisions have been kept before the people of India. All procurement, all contracts are given through transparent e-auctions, reverse bidding where we encourage more and more equal participation so that as Prime Minister says, a new India of the dreams of the youth is taking shape, a new India that fulfils the aspirations of the women of India is taking shape, a new India about giving opportunities to the poor is taking shape.

That is the new India that this government is committed to, a new India where prosperity not poverty, where equal opportunity not discrimination, where respect for the women not any harm to the women is permitted or women are not at a disadvantage in society, a new India where the youth will prosper. That is the new India where farmers, the marginalized sections of society, the socially deprived, the poor of India get respect that is the new India that we are all working for. Three years, we have earned the trust of the people.

लोगों का विश्वास हमारे साथ है, प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी पर लोग विश्वास करते हैं, उनको प्रधानमंत्री मोदी जी के काम में विकास की धारा नज़र आती है |

Progress is the buzzword of this government, people trust that the work of this government is strengthening to create a framework of good governance and progress for this country.

I am delighted that we have been able to take a lot of our programmes to the people of Karnataka also. I wish we had more support by which we could do even better when we are serving the government, the people of Karnataka. And, I would urge the state government to support the efforts of the central government to serve the people of Karnataka in a far better way, in a faster way and in an honest way and I would like to compliment the leadership of the Bhartiya Janta Party in Bengaluru and Karnataka for being in the forefront of keeping a check on the Karnataka government. And I am sure that the people of Karnataka are also going to watch the central government’s performance, compared to the performance of the Karnataka government and make sure that they take the right decisions in the days to come.

Thank you very much. If you have any questions I will be happy to answer them.

Q&A

Q : Sir, inspite of all these achievements, still we see that the government is little lagging behind as far as Kashmir and its issues are concerned?

Ans : Not at all, in fact, Mr Rajnath Singh, the honourable Home Minister recently, just 3 days back I think addressed the press and gave all the details how this government has been able to reduce the cross border terrorism, how we have been able to attack the modules of terrorists and left wing extremism. And the number of terrorists who have been killed in the last 3 years are almost twice the number in the previous three years before that. So this is a government which has taken harsh, serious steps to stop and curb terrorism. The surgical strikes gave a solid message and I think it is the desperation of the neighbouring countries that they are trying to somehow bring about unrest in Kashmir. It is now restricted to 3 and a half districts of Kashmir. By and large, Kashmir is peaceful. The GST Council where Karnataka representatives were also there met in Kashmir just 2 weeks ago, there was absolutely no problem, there was peace and all of Srinagar, everything was normal.

So, I don’t think that Kashmir is, it’s being exaggerated I think than the real situation on the ground. I think the problem in these 3.5 districts also the armed forces are addressing very seriously. Last two-three days you are aware the NIA has been raiding all the modules of terrorists, I am quite confident and our central government is committed to bringing peace because we believe, by and large, the people of Kashmir want peace, the few misguided people we will also try to bring in the mainstream.

I just want to add one more thing. Today is the death anniversary of Guru Golwalkarji, the second Sarsanghachalak of the RSS. I pay my respects to him. I, in fact, personally fondly remember my own association with Guruji when I was a very small child and, in fact, my website starts with my photograph with Guru Golwalkar. And, truly a visionary, a person who was concerned about a society where everybody gets a better life, better quality of life, where workers are respected, where the poor get opportunity to become self-reliant and get a better life for their children. Guru Golwalkarji was instrumental in taking the RSS activities in different walks of life and today we remember him very fondly.

And, we pledge ourselves to work on the high ideals that Guru Golwalkarji had set for all of us and which we are dedicated to pursuing and dedicated to completing his vision and fulfilling his dreams for which he served his whole life, almost for 60 years he served the people of India. And, our party and all of us dedicate ourselves to his high ideals.

Q : Goyalji, today CBI has raided NDTV’s Pranay Roy and his wife, and the channel has called it the witch-hunt. So, it’s a veiled attack on the central government, so what is your….

Ans : Well, I think our government does not interfere in any investigation process, that is left to the investigative agencies to do. This government does not interfere in any investigation. We have heard these kind of comments for anybody who is investigated, and I don’t think anybody should shy away from an investigation. If they are very clear that everything is alright then, obviously, the investigation will show that everything is alright. There should not be any concern about that. Our government does not believe in any investigation, interfering in any investigation whatsoever. But just because you run a media house or you are a former Minister or a sitting Minister or a top politician or whatever does not also give immunity in this country from investigation. Investigative authorities have to pursue all the leads that they receive, they are doing their job. We are not in any case involved in any investigation, that’s for the investigative authorities to continue.

Q : One question, it just come right now. Saudi Arabia and its 3 allies have cut ties with Qatar, they are …….(inaudible). So Qatar being you know………… will this impact the supply of LNG in India?

Ans : Not at all, we have not cut any relations with Qatar. So India will continue to get its supplies. That is an internal diplomatic matter between those countries, I don’t think India has any view and we do not take sides in this. We believe in good harmonious relations with all countries of the world with which India has diplomatic ties.

Q : Can you elaborate more on helping farmers, farmers were not accustomed to through the technologies, who has to coordinate and how do the ……….?

Ans : See, we started the Kisan Channel so that we can disseminate information to the farmers of the different far off places, then we focused on soil health card, because that soil health card helps the farmer to understand what is the best output he can get to improve his productivity. Then we have set up centres, common service centres, over 2,25,000 or so common service centres have been set up all over the country where we are taking training programmes for the local farmers to help them understand that based on the soil health card what is the best produce, what is the best mix of fertilizer so that farmers can get better output from their field. We have connected through e-Nam, we have connected all the Mandis, the agricultural centres so that the best price information can go to the farmers.

Through SMS alerts we are sending all the farmers what is the situation of the Monsoon, when the rains are expected, what is the Weather Bureau predictions, so that they can plan their activities of harvesting better. You will be happy to know that for the first time in 3 years, there has never been a single day of shortage of fertilizer anywhere in the country. By doing a root cause analysis, we have put neem-coated urea and I must compliment your local MP and our honourable Minister Shri Ananthkumarji by this revolutionary step. By neem-coating of urea we have been able to save all the urea which was being diverted to industry and rather than going to serve the farmers was being misused by middlemen to serve industrial needs at low costs. Because of neem-coating now, the urea goes straight to the farmers, it’s no more useful for industry, it cannot be misused.

Now our studies show that they will have to, even with 45 kilos, 10% less urea per bag, the same output is received by the farmer. Because of that neem-coating it has improved the output of the fertilizer. So, now farmers will save 10% cost of urea also, already Ananthkumarji has reduced the urea prices as you might be aware. I am sure he has told the Bengaluru press about his achievements and how he has reduced fertilizer price first time in so many years. On top of that, 10% urea saving will be there, because same output they will get by 10% less consumption.

Having said that, we are promoting through Fasal Sinchai Yojana, irrigation schemes, to complete all those schemes which were left incomplete over the last decades, we are focusing to give money to improve the irrigation facilities. MNREGA is being used to create, like in Maharashtra, the jalyug shivir, we are using MNREGA funds to create small ponds that even if three days rain comes, the farmer for the whole year will have water. And, Mr Devendra Fadnavis was telling me, Chief Minister from Maharashtra, that another two years, Maharashtra will almost become drought-proof, that even two or three days rain there can be adequate water bodies to have enough water.

Desilting we are taking up in a big way wherever we are getting cooperation from the states. Unfortunately, if your local government does not cooperate with our programmes, very often we are not able we are not able to take it to the people, to the common man.

We have given more than one lakh solar pumps to farmers across the country, now we are planning to expand that programme even further. Micro irrigation is being given a great boost so that more and more farmers wherever there is drought or where they are dependent on monsoon can come under micro irrigation. Through the insurance scheme, universal insurance scheme, 100% compensation in the event of any loss at very low premium. First time in the history of independent India, farmers will get 100% compensation that also if only 33% losses are there, earlier it used to be minimum 50% loss you would get compensation, Modiji made it 33%. I was just seeing the figures one of my colleagues was showing me that in the last 3 years the amount that Karnataka government because of problems of drought or rainfall are a record, never before has congress’s own government in Karnataka has not been able to get that kind of support from central government which the BJP government in Delhi has given to Karnataka’s Congress government. Because, we believe that we have been elected to serve 125 crore Indians. We have never distinguished or differentiated on who rules a state government. Once we are elected, we serve every state equally, uniformly without discrimination.

Look at my own Ministry, 6 coal blocks in my state of Maharashtra for which in Maharashtra I have received more than my share of land, but I gave it to Karnataka because they were earlier Karnataka’s blocks. They were operating in Karnataka, for the service of Karnataka’s people. So, though the blocks are in Maharashtra, Maharashtra’s power plants are 20 kms, 50 kms from there. Cost of power would have fallen significantly, but I am not Minister for Maharashtra alone, I am Minister for India. And in that spirit, the BJP government of, central government despite having a BJP government in Maharashtra in fairness gave those 6 blocks back to Karnataka. And I believe for that in your Assembly also, there was a resolution thanking the central government and Prime Minister Modi. So, this is one government and I do wish you will take this message and I wish to give this message through all of you ladies and gentlemen to the people of Karnataka that Prime Minister Modi will serve Karnataka and the interests of the people of Karnataka, even though there is a government which is not willing to take all our benefits and all our schemes to the people. Wherever we are not getting support we will go directly to the people of Karnataka, like Ujjwala, we went straight to the people and gave free LPG connections. I have the figures also, as I told you, when I was compiling information of what what has happened it became more than one thousand items, I would have sat on this press conference till dinner time instead of lunch and I could not have finished all the items. So, I didn’t say all of this, but I can continue more on farmers also if you want from my memory, from what I recollect different Ministries telling me.

Minimum Support Price; Congress keeps saying and I must share this with you that you know, we increased Minimum Support Price by 8%, BJP increased it by 5%, some figures they give out. But you all are aware that in their time there was double-digit inflation so even if you increase by 8%, when inflation is 12% actually farmer is earning less money, after all, he has to spend more day to day. But in our government when we increased MSP, our inflation is down to 3-3.5%. So, effectively, there is a genuine increase in the farmer’s side.

So, that has been the approach of this government, create a strong foundation on which the farmers will benefit, support the farmer by empowering them and empower them to double their incomes and we are working towards that end.

Q : Sir, Karnataka government is already …. 4 years achievement and they are already ….. and as you said there are some schemes which the government has not been able to implement in the state itself. Do you need to highlight which are the schemes which the centre could have implemented more successfully if there was support from the government…..?

Ans : There are so many but take this Pradhan Mantri Fasal Beema Yojana, knowing full well that Karnataka often faces drought problem, if they had encouraged all the farmers and taken the scheme to all the farmers today they would not have been under so much pressure or tension. My IPDS and Deendayal Upadhyay Gram Jyoti Yojana schemes, Karnataka should do a faster roll out of that. I mean the amount of data that I keep getting, corruption scandals, if the kind of corruption scandals come up then the utilization of central government funds becomes a question mark on the state government and we are not able to give more funding till we receive all the utilization certificates.

If they focus on UDAY, the Ujjwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana, they can save 6,700 crore rupees for the power DISCOMs every year, if they focus better and give out LED bulbs faster to all their people, if they use the agricultural low-energy consumption, energy-efficient pumps and give it out to the people, if they ensure that everybody gets 24 hours power.

For the first time, again in years and years, decades, in the last two years not a single power plant of Karnataka has had coal shortage. Today, also not a single thermal power plant has a coal shortage as we speak and for two years this country has been surplus coal. They should ensure that everybody gets enough power. Bengaluru had a lot of power problems last year. What was the reason for that? Because the state government doesn’t give right of way, doesn’t arrange for the right of way so that transmission lines can be set up. There is a place Yelanka? Yelanka, near Karnataka, one day I had to fly down to Bengaluru to discuss that please give right of way so that transmission lines can be expanded and all of south India will benefit not only Karnataka. After all, our duty as political public servants is to serve all the people, despite that, we have been able double transmission lines to south India and, therefore, you will be happy to know that where three years back, four years back, Karnataka in certain months of the year had to buy power at 11 rupees, 10 rupees and as high as that. Today, throughout the day and throughout the year power is available at power exchange at very reasonable prices. If you see the Vidyut Pravah App, you will find that power prices have fallen so drastically on the power exchange they are available at such competitive prices that every state can buy power and give low cost power to their people. So I think, through auction of blocks, there are mineral blocks which we have given to Karnataka to auction. Earlier they used to all be given out free of charge.

Prime Minister Modi has said no freebies to anybody. Coal blocks we auction and we proved that coal-gate was a reality now there is already a conviction also. So it demonstrates the corrupt Congress government how they were giving out free blocks to their relatives, to their party MPs. We did auction and these states where these blocks are located will earn nearly three and half lakh crore rupees in the next 25 years as the coal mines start producing and produce coal. Even in Karnataka, we have already had seven blocks auctioned which revenue will be 34,353 crores to the state as the mining takes place.

Earlier, Congress government used to give out all these blocks free of charge. Because of the amendment in the law that Modi government brought, now auction is compulsory and 34,353 crores Karnataka people will get in terms of service through the state government. Of course, if they do it honestly. So the critical thing is good governance, honest governance, pro-poor governance, which unfortunately Karnataka has failed to provide.

Thank you!