VIDYA SETHURAMAN
India Post News Service
MILPITAS, California: BJP Spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra addressed the Indian diaspora in a truly inspiring event organized by Chandru Bhambhra, President of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) of Northern California, November 20 at the India Community Center, Milpitas.
The event was attended by over 200 residents of the Bay Area and community leaders from various organisations. Dr Romesh Japra, Chairman and Convener, FOG & FIA, welcomed Dr Patra along with Bhambhra.
Dr Patra, the star spokesperson of the BJP, spoke on new India. He began by answering the question: what is New India? It is bringing back the old lost glory of the great nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the most revered political figure in India and has instilled confidence in India.
“If you look at the performance of the union government under the leadership of Narendra Modi, you will witness that the credibility of India has reached an all time high,” Dr Patra told the gathering.
The BJP leader claimed that now the atmosphere is about “Modi hai to mumkin hai” (It is possible if Modi is there) as the Prime Minister has created a stronger and better India.
Patra said the Modi government has given corruption -free governance in the last six years and even the political rivals are struggling to find out any instance to corner the government. The tag of being a non-corrupt government is one of the most important achievements of the Modi-led political dispensation, said Dr Patra. He went on to talk on the reforms and measures taken by Modi’s government.
Almost a century ago, Mahatma Gandhi made toilet hygiene an index on civilization and health. When Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, he recognized open defecation was against the dignity of women and unveiled his vision for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in his first Independence Day speech. The program, which has Mahatma Gandhi’s iconic spectacles as its logo, is one of the most effective schemes of the Modi government. On October 2, 2019, Modi finally declared India free of open defecation.
“The world is amazed that toilets have been provided to more than 600 million people in 60 months, building more than 110 million toilets,” said Dr Patra.
“On Independence Day in 2015, PM Modi made an appeal to the common man from the ramparts of the Red Fort to surrender LPG subsidy. More than 1.25 crore people voluntarily gave up the subsidy. This proves our Prime Minister is selfless and works for the country tirelessly,” said Dr Patra.
He said that due to Articles 370 and 35A, people of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of the benefits of 109 law and nine constitutional amendments. He said that now, with the abrogation of these two Articles, the government can completely focus on the development of the state by generating employment. He said that the Articles 370 and 35A were temporary provisions, but some people in the previous governments tried to make them permanent for political gains.
Due to Article 370, only two or three families continued to rule the state and it was deprived of development, Dr Patra claimed, and added that the move had also led to terrorists starting to count their final days.
He blamed the Congress of not allowing the continuous hearing of Ayodhya‘s Ram Mandir-Babri Masjid case. He lauded the Supreme Court for delivering a historic verdict that paved the way for a grand temple in Ayodhya.
“I am confident that this landmark judgement given by the Supreme Court will prove to be a milestone in itself. This decision will further strengthen India’s unity, integrity and great culture,” Dr Patra said.
He also answered a few questions posted from the gathering. He told the NRIs that all the expected changes in India are in the pipeline and will be implemented in few years.
The BJP spokesperson said that Modi has created a strong economy.
“The world economy is facing a slowdown but we can say with happiness that the Indian economy is doing well… because of strong base and fundamentals, our economy is doing quite well,” he said.
