Mumbai, Jun 12 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s completion of 12 years in office, saying he was “not only the longest serving, but the finest serving” PM, who enhanced India’s stature globally.
Addressing a press conference, Fadnavis said PM Modi changed the face of the country and brought about a “360-degree transformation”.
Congratulating Modi on becoming the country’s longest-serving elected prime minister, the Maharashtra CM said the significance of the achievement lay not merely in the duration of his tenure but in the changes brought about during the period.
“It is important not only because he has served for so long. What is important is that he has changed the face of the country and enhanced India’s stature across the world,” Fadnavis said.
He asserted that the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was in power in 22 states, and said around 80 per cent of the country’s population lived in states governed by the alliance.
Claiming that Modi’s popularity remained unmatched globally, Fadnavis said international rating agencies consistently ranked him as the world’s most popular leader and maintained his approval ratings at around 75 per cent.
The CM said the government had lifted 25 crore people out of poverty and provided food security to 80 crore citizens. He also highlighted welfare measures such as PM-Kisan, Ayushman Bharat, Jan Dhan Yojana, PM Awas Yojana, Ujjwala Yojana and the Lakhpati Didi programme.
Fadnavis said “good governance and efficient administration” had been the major strengths of Modi’s tenure and noted that Rs 51 lakh crore had been transferred directly into the citizens’ bank accounts through various schemes.
He said annual expenditure on infrastructure had increased from Rs 2 lakh crore earlier to Rs 12.2 lakh crore and cited expansion in highways, airports, railway electrification, metro networks and Vande Bharat trains.
Referring to the economy, Fadnavis said India became the world’s fourth-largest economy and remained the “fastest developing economy” despite concerns expressed by some over a global slowdown.
“People kept talking about recession, but India’s growth rate this year is the highest in the world. Even today, India is the fastest developing economy,” he said, adding that the country was moving rapidly towards becoming a USD 5 trillion economy.
He also highlighted gains in electronics manufacturing, semiconductor projects, mobile phone production and defence exports, and said the government had pursued “development with heritage” through projects, such as the Ram temple in Ayodhya, the Kashi Vishwanath corridor and Mahakal corridor.
Fadnavis said Modi’s legacy was defined not only by longevity in office but by the scale of change brought during his tenure.
“As I said, this is not only about being the longest serving prime minister. Not only the longest serving, but the finest serving. He has brought about a 360-degree transformation in the country,” he said.
Modi on Wednesday became the longest-serving elected prime minister of India in his third consecutive term, breaking the record of 4,398-day tenure of the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. PTI MR NP
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