MODINOMICS– A MIDTERM ANALYSIS OF PM NARENDRA MODI’S WORK
July 3, 2017
Centre for Economic Policy Research or CEPR in collaboration with Penguin India organized two panel discussions on Modinomics –a mid term review of PM Narendra Modi’s work. The first discussion happened at India International Centre on July 3, 2017 and second at Punjab Raj Bhawan, Chandigarh on July 21, 2017. The first discussion hosted Union Minister for Transport, Highways and Shipping, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, as the chief guest. The discussion was moderated by Senior Associate Editor, India Today Group, Anilesh S. Mahajan. The second discussion had Punjab’s Governor & Administrator of UT Chandigarh, VP Badnore & Himachal Pradesh’s governor Acharya Dev Vrat.
Before the both the discussions started, book authored by India Today’s Deputy Editor, Sh. Uday Mahurkar’s ‘Marching with a Billion: Analysing Narendra Modi’s Government at Midterm’ were released. To start the first discussion, Sh. Gadkari shared his personal anecdote to illustrate the decision making of the Prime Minister. In fact, in the second discussion inaugural, Sh Badnore said that the PM Modi believes in doing simple things right, and has immense eye for details. In the first debate other panellists include, former advisor to PM, Sh. Sanjaya Baru, National Organiser of SJM, Sh. Kashmiri Lal, BJP’s General Secretary, P Murlidhar Rao. The second discussion at Chandigarh had BJP’s president there, Sh Sanjay Tondon, Lt General (retd) KJ Singh and SAD General Secretary DS Cheema. The speaker of Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Rana K.P. Singh also spoke on the occasion. In his speech, Sh. Gadkari underlined how the PM Modi is connecting the nodes of Indian economy. He gave example of the integrated transportation initiative for roads, railways, waterways and civil aviation. He added that the Sagarmala and Bharatmala programmes to construction of new ports and expressways will act as gateway of India’s prosperity. Uday Mahurkar said that, Modinomics is based on involving all Indians in economic growth of India. He believes, that this approach wasn’t there earlier. He appreciated the work of the present government and the monumental changes the prime minister has brought about, including digital innovation and the uprooting of middlemen, which has resulted in an unprecedented level of transparency, and a resolute assault on poverty. Kashmiri Lal, National Chief, Swadeshi Jagran Manch, he listed several reforms initiated by the NDA government, and listed series of challenges in the three years, which people in governance may have to address. This include the investments coming in from the China. Later in Chandigarh, Lt General Singh, said that political courage PM Modi has shown to own surgical strikes after the Uri attack is exemplary. Similarly, DS Cheema –whose party SAD is part of the NDA, said that the new regime is giving more space to the state governments in terms of independence in planning their expenditures. He said that in the first half of the tenure, the states have started responding to a newer idea of federalism floated by the PM Modi. Dr Subhash Sharma proposed the vote of thanks and lauded the performance of the Modi government for the past three years and cautioned that the government must remain focused on development and inclusive growth.