Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the slogan ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’ (This time, above 400) as a grassroots expression of support for the current government, during his virtual address at the ‘Viksit Bharat, Viksit Madhya Pradesh’ programme on February 29, 2024. “Today, there is only one thing being heard everywhere: ‘Abki Baar, 400 Paar’. This has happened for the first time that the public itself has elevated a slogan like this to bring back its beloved government. It has not been given by the BJP,” he stated.
As part of the event, Mr. Modi inaugurated or laid the foundations for development projects valued at over ₹17,550 crore in Madhya Pradesh, encompassing initiatives in irrigation, railroads, roads, power, and industry. He also unveiled a Vedic clock in Ujjain, the Vikramaditya Vedic Ghari, based on the Hindu panchang, along with the Cyber Tehsil project, aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is targeting to secure more than 400 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, with a goal of over 370 seats for the BJP alone. Mr. Modi emphasized that his ambitions go beyond merely forming a government for a third term. “We are entering the poll fray to make the nation the third largest economy in the world during the third term. Forming the government is not the final aim for us. It is a medium of making the nation for us,” he explained.
In his remarks, Mr. Modi criticized the Congress party for allegedly undermining India’s traditional manufacturing capabilities. He noted, “We have had a tradition of making toys. But it had come to a situation that, until a few years ago, our markets and our homes used to be filled with imported toys,” asserting that his government has revitalized local toy manufacturers.
The Prime Minister reported a significant reduction in toy imports, stating, “We are now exporting more toys than we used to import earlier,” while addressing toy manufacturers from Budhni.
Looking ahead, Mr. Modi forecasted an unprecedented empowerment of women in the next five years, predicting that several lakhpati didis (women earning more than ₹1 lakh) would emerge in each village, and many would become Nano Drone Didis, revolutionizing agriculture.
The Vedic clock, described as the first of its kind, is intended to symbolize India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation, according to Mr. Modi. The Cyber Tehsil initiative, set to be implemented across all 55 districts in Madhya Pradesh, aims to facilitate a streamlined revenue process through digital means, ensuring paperless and efficient management of land and ownership documents.
The Prime Minister laid the groundwork for various irrigation projects exceeding ₹5,512 crore, inaugurated railway projects costing more than ₹2,200 crore, and coal sector ventures valued at over ₹1,000 crore, among other developments.
The announcement and initiatives come as the BJP prepares for upcoming elections, positioning itself as a proponent of economic progress and local empowerment.
The article was published on February 29, 2024, at 09:54 pm IST.
