Viksit states will make Viksit Bharat: PM Modi at NITI Aayog meeting

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: PTI)

2 min read Last update : July 27, 2024 | 5:18 p.m. IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday addressed the ninth meeting of the Niti Aayog Governing Council and asserted that the ambitious goal of ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ could be achieved through collective efforts of all states.

Modi stressed that India was moving in the right direction after overcoming an unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have defeated a pandemic that comes only once in 100 years. Our people are full of enthusiasm and confidence. We can achieve our dreams of Viksit Bharat 2047 with the combined efforts of all states. Viksit states will make Viksit Bharat,” he said.

He stressed that the vision of a developed India by 2047 was shared by all Indians and underlined the crucial role of states.

“Viksit Bharat 2047 is the ambition of every Indian. States can play an active role in achieving this goal as they are directly connected to the people,” he was quoted as saying in a statement issued by Niti Aayog after the meeting.

Modi stressed that this decade has been marked by significant technological and geopolitical changes, as well as opportunities.

“This is the decade of changes, technological and geopolitical, but also of opportunities. India has to seize these opportunities and make its policies conducive to international investments. This is the stepping stone to progress towards making India a developed nation,” he said at the meeting, which focused on various development and policy issues.

Earlier, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee abruptly left the meeting, saying she was not allowed to speak and her microphone was switched off, which she called “insulting”.

Banerjee told reporters that she left the meeting because she was treated unfairly. She said that while other chief ministers were allowed to speak for 10 to 20 minutes, she was interrupted after speaking for five minutes.

Noting that it was not only an insult to West Bengal but also to all regional parties, Banerjee urged the central government to avoid discriminating against state governments.

She also criticised the NITI Aayog, saying it lacked financial powers and suggested that it be given more powers or the Planning Commission be revived. Banerjee said she attended the meeting to strengthen cooperative federalism.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and several other leaders of the opposition INDIA bloc were absent from the meeting.

First published: July 27, 2024 | 5:18 p.m. IST