India growing despite global crunch: Ravi Shankar Prasad
February 22 2016, 14.24 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
NEW DELHI: Minister for Communications & IT Ravi Shankar Prasad while speaking at “Budget Aaj Tak” conclave on Monday said despite crunch in global economy, India is progressing at a fast pace and that all economic parameters indicate towards India emerging as a strong global economic power. He said various policy initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aiding in strong and robust growth and also generation of jobs in the country.
“Our government is working for poor, farmers and other marginalized sections of the society…We have taken several progressive steps that would uplift and empower all sections of our society,” the Minister said while highlighting policy initiatives of his government like Digital India, Start Up India, Jan Dhan and general and health insurance for people, insurance scheme for farmers, direct subsidy transfer for the poor.
Talking about his ministry, Mr. Prasad said while organizations like BSNL have again become profitable and Department of Post was helping in financial inclusion of the poor, there has been not a single incidence of corruption in the Ministry which saw scandal like 2G scam. “India now has 100 crore mobile subscribers and 40 crore Internet subscribers and growing, electronic manufacturing is also doing good with over 10 crore mobiles being made every year and new jobs being created. Similarly, E-commerce sector is growing at over 67 per cent and is also the largest employment generator today. In April a new BPO scheme will be launched that would create lakhs of jobs in small cities and towns…We are building a new India through digital connectivity,” he added.
On Vodafone tax issue, he said when Indian companies are being asked to pay taxes about, same should be applicable to foreign firms operating in India. “Yes the Prime Minister has said that taxes cannot be levied on retrospective basis, but tax liability issue still remains (in Vodafone case)…We are trying to find a way to resolve this issue.”
On the forthcoming Budget session, Mr. Prasad said efforts were being made to ensure that there is no stalemate and that Budget and other key legislations are passed in Parliament. On Rahul Gandhi’s recent statements on JNU and Rohit Vemula, he said Mr. Gandhi needs to start thinking and behaving like an important leader of an important party.
Talking about stalemate in government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said talks were on with the PDP and the effort was on to form a government there based on a common minimum programme for good governance and speedy growth of the state. He rejected claims that alliance between BJP and PDP was “opportunistic” and that all efforts were towards implementing agenda of good governance.
Targeting Communist parties, he said their political stature has come down considerably and today the irony is that they are seeking alliance with the Congress in their erstwhile bastion of West Bengal. “It is true that Left thinkers have always opposed Mr. Modi and they want his removal, but Mr. Modi has got massive mandate of the people and he will complete his full tenure,” he said and indicated that these Left thinkers were behind all the trouble in the JNU. He also said political thinking and ideology being practiced in JNU is not recognized nationally and the leaders there need to come out of their “Cold war” mindset.
Ravi Shankar Prasad,Minister of Communications & IT, at Budget aaj tak
February 22 2016, 14.24 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
NEW DELHI: Minister for Communications & IT Ravi Shankar Prasad while speaking at “Budget Aaj Tak” conclave on Monday said despite crunch in global economy, India is progressing at a fast pace and that all economic parameters indicate towards India emerging as a strong global economic power. He said various policy initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was aiding in strong and robust growth and also generation of jobs in the country.
“Our government is working for poor, farmers and other marginalized sections of the society…We have taken several progressive steps that would uplift and empower all sections of our society,” the Minister said while highlighting policy initiatives of his government like Digital India, Start Up India, Jan Dhan and general and health insurance for people, insurance scheme for farmers, direct subsidy transfer for the poor.
Talking about his ministry, Mr. Prasad said while organizations like BSNL have again become profitable and Department of Post was helping in financial inclusion of the poor, there has been not a single incidence of corruption in the Ministry which saw scandal like 2G scam. “India now has 100 crore mobile subscribers and 40 crore Internet subscribers and growing, electronic manufacturing is also doing good with over 10 crore mobiles being made every year and new jobs being created. Similarly, E-commerce sector is growing at over 67 per cent and is also the largest employment generator today. In April a new BPO scheme will be launched that would create lakhs of jobs in small cities and towns…We are building a new India through digital connectivity,” he added.
On Vodafone tax issue, he said when Indian companies are being asked to pay taxes about, same should be applicable to foreign firms operating in India. “Yes the Prime Minister has said that taxes cannot be levied on retrospective basis, but tax liability issue still remains (in Vodafone case)…We are trying to find a way to resolve this issue.”
On the forthcoming Budget session, Mr. Prasad said efforts were being made to ensure that there is no stalemate and that Budget and other key legislations are passed in Parliament. On Rahul Gandhi’s recent statements on JNU and Rohit Vemula, he said Mr. Gandhi needs to start thinking and behaving like an important leader of an important party.
Talking about stalemate in government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said talks were on with the PDP and the effort was on to form a government there based on a common minimum programme for good governance and speedy growth of the state. He rejected claims that alliance between BJP and PDP was “opportunistic” and that all efforts were towards implementing agenda of good governance.
Targeting Communist parties, he said their political stature has come down considerably and today the irony is that they are seeking alliance with the Congress in their erstwhile bastion of West Bengal. “It is true that Left thinkers have always opposed Mr. Modi and they want his removal, but Mr. Modi has got massive mandate of the people and he will complete his full tenure,” he said and indicated that these Left thinkers were behind all the trouble in the JNU. He also said political thinking and ideology being practiced in JNU is not recognized nationally and the leaders there need to come out of their “Cold war” mindset.
Ravi Shankar Prasad,Minister of Communications & IT, at Budget aaj tak
