Daijiworld Media Network – (NJC)
Mangaluru, Jun 13: India has achieved remarkable economic growth of 7.7% despite global challenges during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s tenure, and the growth momentum is expected to continue, said Dr Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, national general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Rajya Sabha MP, and chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs.
Addressing a press conference during the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan in Mangaluru on Saturday, Dr Agarwal said India’s economy has grown significantly from 1.9 trillion during 2003–14 to 4.1 trillion at present. He expressed confidence that India will emerge as the world’s third-largest economy by 2031.
Comparing global growth rates, he stated that India’s growth stands at 7.7%, while the United States recorded 2.6%, China 4.4%, Japan 0.7%, Equatorial Guinea 0.72%, and Germany 6.79%. He added that over the past 12 years, around 25 crore people have moved above the poverty line, while unemployment stands at 5.1% and inflation at 4.5%.
Dr Agarwal also spoke about various welfare initiatives, stating that 80 crore people are receiving ration benefits, electricity connections have reached all villages and households, free education is being provided for children, and around 50 crore people have benefited from healthcare services under Ayushman Bharat. He added that 10.51 crore people have received free LPG connections, and beneficiaries are receiving a subsidy of Rs 302 on four cylinders.
Highlighting achievements in Karnataka, he said 21.2 million accounts have been opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana. He added that 1.6 crore people have benefited from the Jeevan Jyoti insurance scheme, 2.6 crore from the Suraksha insurance scheme, and 48.9 lac people from the Atal Pension Yojana.
Responding to a query regarding a possible change in the Karnataka BJP state president, Dr Agarwal said the decision would be taken by a committee headed by the National Council President.
The press conference was attended by former minister Krishna J Palemar, MLAs Vedavyas Kamath, Dr Bharat Shetty, Umanath Kotian, Harish Poonja, Rajesh Naik and Bhagirathi Murulya; MLCs Pratap Simha Nayak and Kishore Kumar; former MLA Monappa Bhandari; District BJP president Satish Kumpala; former Mayor Premanand Shetty; and other party leaders.