NDA government’s act to be eagerly watched

Hawk eyed economists and the expectant public in general are awaiting the government to perform for they have burdened its shoulders with responsibilities galore. The extensive mandate by the people has put a gigantic pressure on the new NDA government to perform towards fulfilling the promises it had made to them during the elections. During elections Mr Modi had promised to revive growth of the country that has fallen below 5 per cent choking off job opportunities. The government has to look into the vital aspect of creating job opportunities for the massive workforce that is ready for work in a under developed nation like India. Mr Modi must also address the prospect of new roads, factories, power lines, high-speed trains and 100 new cities that were highlighted to be in the pipe line to take India onto the next orbit. Mr Modi’s government has not touched the costly subsidy program that accounted for 2.4 per cent of GDP last fiscal. Mr Modi needs to layout a convincing five-year vision for India. The government strategy to create jobs is a most critical area since BJP promised job for all consistently during elections. The government must also focus on reviving the manufacturing sector which will be the key to large-scale job...

PM Modi’s Independence Day Speech

Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered his maiden speech to the nation on the occasion of the 68th Independence Day from the ramparts of the Red Fort in Delhi. The speech was marked by bold changes and big bang reforms. The government has opened up the doors for bringing in foreign investment in certain sectors. The speech was appropriate for a leader who has been elected by a strong mandate and laid out with policies that depicted conviction. The speech again brought forward the compulsion to perform due to the immense responsibilities laid upon the shoulders of the government by the hopeful people in the first 100 days of its existence itself. However in order to bring in changes for progress some difficult decisions had to be undergone the beginning of which may be the scraping of the Planning Commission in hindsight. India’s 68th Independence Day was remarkable for the massive public participation of almost 10000 who crowded the Red Fort in Delhi where PM Modi delivered the highpoints of his three month-old government and its future policies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi first unfurled the national flag from the Red Fort and then spoke to the nation from the historic podium for the first time after his party’s spectacular electoral victory in May this year. In keeping with the significance of the occasion this national day was turned into a mega festival with the participation of “aam aadmi” to bestow upon the national capital a festive look. The crowd was a departure from previous Independence Day observances where public participation at Red Fort was limited to hundreds of school children, government officials and selected invitees due to security reasons. Modi’s extempore like many others was watched in India and abroad for his vision and major policy announcements. Modi has acquired a status as a persuasive speaker and an appealing orator. The Delhi government has decorated the city with 4,000 flags and 60,000 balloons with many prominent roundabouts either been decked with flowers or a tricolour made of flowers. Modi has especially emphasized upon cleanliness and special drives have been carried out in Delhi to remove garbage and litter from roadsides with streets having been swept clean. Public bus services had announced fare concessions for rides to the Red Fort. Parts of Chandni Chowk the crowded shopping bazaar in old Delhi had been declared a pedestrian zone for part the day with various events planned on roads free of vehicular traffic. Prominent buildings in the city were lit up with tricolour...

PM Modi strengthens security team

India’s new PM has chosen a daring former spy Ajit Doval, with years of experience in dealing with Pakistan as his national security adviser a signal to building a strong, no-nonsense team for dealing with Pakistan and China. The choice former Indian army Chief General VK Singh as minister for the northeast region plans to revamp national security. The two top-level officers will be reporting directly to PM Modi. The new security team will push for a rapid expansion of border infrastructure and streamlining of intelligence services. Singh has declared his priority is to develop the northeast in order to narrow the gap with Chinese investment in roads and railways on its side of the frontier. All these steps have been undertaken to secure a nation with strong borders towards fulfillment of a long-standing goal of Bharatiya Janata...

PMO gradually taking shape

With Nripendra Misra as principal secretary and Ajit Doval as national security advisor the foundation has been laid for a new-look Prime Minister’s Office. A few more key officials are to be brought in to make the PMO an effectual seat of governance under Mr Modi. Andhra Pradesh cadre officer Satish Chandra now looks set to join the league by being appointed the private secretary to the PM. The 1986 batch officer is now resident commissioner of Andhra Pradesh. Mean while S Jaishankar, India’s ambassador to the US is being considered for the role of foreign policy advisor to the PM. With cabinet secretary Ajit Seth retiring on June 13, all eyes are now on the vital appointment of the new cabinet secretary. Sutanu Behuria, a 1976 batch Himachal Pradesh officer who is currently the secretary in charge of heavy industries, is the senior-most candidate for the job. However petroleum secretary Saurabh Chandra and Jawed Usmani are also in the fray. The PMO and cabinet secretariat will have to be in tune to deliver the effective governance Modi has pledged. Mr Modi has roped in IAS officer AK Sharma and Indian Forest Service officer Bharat Lal from the Gujarat administration in the new PMO as joint secretaries. With the current secretary to the PM R Ramanujam retiring next month another high-level vacancy will need to be filled up in the PMO. On May 29 PM Modi took an unprecedented tour of all the offices in PMO being guided by Nripendra Misra. The appointment of a communications advisor to the PM is also...

PM Modi’s official car; PM’s wife Jashodaben given police protection

The homegrown sports utility vehicle, Mahindra Scorpio was the top choice of Mr Modi during his election campaigns. In a letter to PM Modi, Mahindra & Mahindra Chairman, Anand Mahindra has sought for the decade old Scorpio to become his official car. The PM currently uses two custom built BMW 7 series cars. PM’s wife Jashodaben living in Brahmanwada village of Unjha town of Mehsana district has been given 24×7 police protection by the Mehasana police. Five policemen from the Mehsana police headquarters were deployed outside her house. Based on orders from their superiors the Mehasana police headquarters deployed one armed guard and 4 other unarmed policemen for the security of Jashodaben. They will remain stationed near her house 24×7 moving with her wherever she goes announced Deputy Superintendent of Police from Mehsana HQ. Jashodaben came into the limelight when Modi mentioned her name as his wife in the affidavit filed with the Election Commission ahead of elections. Jashodaben lives with her brother in...