‘India chose not to …’: PM Modi on how country ‘missed the bus’ because of past governments; stresses economic progress, recovery after Covid | India News

NEW DELHI: “India chose not to miss any bus since 2014,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated, claiming that the earlier authorities might not see past elections and thus used to “miss the buses” on alternatives to create expertise and trade in the country.While talking at the ET World Leaders Forum, the Prime Minister acknowledged that past governments had stored the nation entangled in vote-bank politics.“In everyday conversation, we often use a phrase … “missing the bus” – meaning when an opportunity comes but passes us by. In our country, under previous governments, many such buses of technology and industry opportunities left us behind. I have not come here today to criticise anyone. But in a democracy, sometimes making comparisons makes the situation clearer,” PM Modi stated.“The earlier governments kept the nation entangled in vote-bank politics. Their thinking did not go beyond elections. They believed that creating cutting-edge technology was the job of developed nations. Whenever we needed it, we would simply import it from them. This was the very reason our country lagged behind many others for years. We kept missing the bus,” he added.PM Modi additionally took a swipe at the UPA authorities over the alleged 2G rip-off and stated that the nation at all times remained dependent on overseas gamers.“Let me give you some examples. When the era of the internet began across the world, our government missed the bus. Then came the era of 2G — what all happened during that time, we all saw, and again we missed that bus. For 2G, 3G, and even 4G, we remained dependent on foreign players. How long could this go on?” PM Modi stated.“That is why, after 2014, India changed its approach. India decided that we will not miss any bus. Instead, we will sit in the driving seat and move forward,” he added.PM Modi underlined that regardless of the shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic, India has managed to keep sturdy fundamentals. “Our fiscal deficit is predicted to come down to 4.4%, that too after the setbacks of Covid,” he stated, including that the financial system has proven exceptional recovery.The Prime Minister pointed to strengthened banking programs, low inflation, decreased rates of interest, and a present account deficit underneath management as indicators of resilience and confidence in India’s economic trajectory.