Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to be congratulated for
giving an elaborate interview to New York-based magazine
‘Newsweek’.
He has also emerged as the second Indian Prime Minister
after Indira Gandhi to be on the cover of the prestigious news magazine.
My attention was drawn to Prime Minister's remarks on inclusive
growth, foreign policy vis-a-vis Quad and also on border dispute with
China.
Prime Minister Shri Mod ji has been right in pointing out that India's relationship with China is important and significant. He also rightly said that both sides need to urgently address the prolonged situation on our borders so that the abnormality in
our bilateral interactions can be put behind us.
Shri Modi ji is again right in stating that stable and peaceful relations between India and China are important for not just our two countries but the entire region and world. He has laid emphasis on constructive bilateral engagement at the diplomatic and military levels and it is true only by these we can achieve a sustained peace and tranquilities in our borders.
On this, may I mention about recent controversy when the Chinese side claimed that it has 'named or renamed' some parts of Arunachal Pradesh. Such things do not make much sense as China also understands the growing importance of India in world polity.
The Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi has rightly rejected any such drama staged by China calling these senseless attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh. On this backdrop, we have to refer to recent visit of External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to the Philippines. Dr Jaishankar assured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr that India will be "very resolute" in its position on South
China Sea. China's aggression in South China is well known and thus Beijing should be now more careful in its dealings with India.On Prime Minister's interview we must appreciate the manner Shri Modi ji has given elaborate replies to many questions including the one on minorities in India.
"These are usual tropes of some people who don't bother to meet people outside their bubbles. Even India's minorities don't buy this narrative anymore. Minorities from all religions, be it Muslim, Christians, Buddhist, Sikh, Jain or even a micro-minority like Parsis are living happily and thriving in India," the Prime
Minister told the 'Newsweek'. One cannot agree more.
India's development journey in the last decade has been unique and unprecedented.
The country is proud of some of infrastructural developments and these are game-changers.
The last decade under Modi ji saw the Sagarmala project and the country has enhanced the capacity of our ports and improved the operational efficiency. Moreover, what relates to northeast India, the National Highways network increased 60 percent, from 91,287 kilometers in 2014 to 146,145 kilometers in 2023.
The number of airports increased from 74 in 2014 to over 150 in 2024.
Every road laid is a pathway to progress, every new airport opened provides a window to new opportunities, the Prime Minister has stated rightly.
Thus the BJP and its NDA partners including NDPP in Nagaland are heading towards this year's election with a new-confidence. We are set for an epoch-making progress in all spheres.