India has become stronger and its global image has improved under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the last five years, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has said.
The country’s economic ranking before the BJP assumed power was No. 9 and it had now moved to No. 6. In the next five months it would go to the fifth position.
It would be the third largest economy, superseding one of the three strongest economies — the United States, Russia and China — by 2028, he told an election meeting at the Government Polytechnic College ground here on Tuesday.
Mr. Singh said only three countries had the anti-satellite missile technology until India successfully tested the missile developed by its scientists using indigenous technology. “With this, India’s image has improved and there is a change in global perspective on the country,” the Union Home Minister said.
Mr. Singh appealed to vote for the BJP candidates Dharmapuri Arvind in Nizamabad and Banala Laxma Reddy in Zaheerabad. “The UPA government had built 25 lakh houses in 10 years while the BJP built 1.3 crore in just four-and-a-half years. The government is aiming at eradicating poverty and providing houses for all by 2022,” he said.
Showering promises on farmers and workers, Mr. Singh said if the BJP came to power and Arvind and Laxma Reddy were elected, it would sanction the turmeric board immediately, provide minimum support price for turmeric and red jowar and efforts would be made to reopen the Nizam Sugar Factory.
BJP State president K. Laxman said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who came to power with so many promises ignored them. “Even if he wins 16 seats he cannot do anything in Delhi and it is Modi who will form the next government,” he added.
Minor fire
A minor mishap occurred at the election meeting addressed by Mr. Rajnath Singh.
Soon after Mr. Singh started his speech, the carpet spread on the ground adjacent to the dais caught fire following an electric short circuit in the wires connecting the air conditioner. The carpet was over the wires. The site was just beside the car in which Mr. Singh travelled.
Alert police and fire fighters immediately extinguished the fire. An unperturbed Mr. Singh continued his speech without disruption.