Keshav Upadhye, a young, dynamic and prominent face, has been working with the Bharatiya Janata Party for over two decades. In 2014, the then state president Devendra Fadnavis had appointed Upadhye as the spokesperson in his team. Owing to his journalistic background and better understanding of the socio-economic issues of the state, Upadhye made a mark as a spokesperson in a short span. He articulates the views of the party and aggressively defends the party on various platforms including the Marathi and Hindi national news channels. Keshav Upadhye worked for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and after completing his degree in Journalism from Ranade Institute, Pune, he began his career as a journalist with daily Pudhari, Loksatta and Mumbai Tarun Bharat. Knowing the pulse of the news, he writes on varied topics and on various platforms like the newspapers, blogs and other social media platforms. He was involved in two study groups formed by the Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini in 2006 to study the naxalite movement and its adverse impact on the development of Chhatisgarh. The Prabodhini later published this report. He was also a part of the Prabodhini’s fact-finding committee formed to study the Solapur riots. LESS … MORE

Recently watched an interview of renowned industrialist and chairman & managing director of Bharat Forge, Baba Kalyani. In this interview, he has narrated his experience of the Narendra Modi government at the Centre. In this interview, he says, “A few years ago, Bharat Forge Company had developed a gun. We contacted the defence forces officials to test this gun. We requested them to provide a range to test this gun. This request was immediately rejected. At the same time, we were also ridiculed. Through my personal contacts, I got this gun tested in America. In 2016, we had placed this gun at the arms exhibition in Delhi. The then defence minister Manohar Parrikar saw this gun. He immediately called us. In the discussion that took place at that time, I shared my experience when I met the defence forces officials to test the gun. Parrikar immediately called the concerned officials and took them to task. In the same meeting, he ordered the provision of ranges to the defence forces for testing weapons of private manufacturers. Since then, India’s defence manufacturers have seen good times in manufacturing weapons and ammunition. This is why India’s arms exports have reached Rs 23,622 crore.”

Mr. Kalyani’s experience provides a clear picture of the changes that have occurred during the 11-year rule of the Modi government. In the last 11 years, the Modi government has completely changed the parameters of who should exercise power and how to exercise it. While radically changing the culture of politics and state administration, the Modi government has created new standards of good governance. The Modi government has consistently presented its work without forgetting that it is accountable to the people who have entrusted it with the responsibility of running the country. Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have personally presented their government’s progress report before the public on many platforms.

In these 11 years, we have fulfilled the aspiration of ordinary Indians of a ‘Safe India, Prosperous India’ and introduced a new India to the world. After the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, the Modi government carried out decisive operations and destroyed terrorist bases operating in and supported by Pakistan. As soon as the Pakistani government tried to give a reply to India’s action, the Indian Army dealt Pakistan such a befitting blow that Pakistan’s warlords and rulers had to bow down before India.

The Pakistan that tried to enter Indian territory was humiliated to core when a befitting reply was given to the Pakistani terrorists. Indian-made weapons played a valuable role in this ‘Operation Sindoor’. Systems like ‘Akashteer’, which releases swarms of drones carrying 5-10 kg of explosives, are the achievements of the Modi government. It is an achievement of the Modi government that India is moving towards becoming completely self-reliant in its defence capability due to the emphasis on defence manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ campaign.

In the last 11 years, the Modi government has shown the world that India can build a world-class defence system. In the last year, the Modi government has also shown its resolve by taking important decisions like the Waqf Amendment Bill. In the first 100 days of Government 3.0, infrastructure development projects worth Rs 3 lakh crore were launched. This includes the Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra. A Rs 49 thousand crore scheme has also been launched to connect 25 thousand villages that have never been connected by road till now.

The Modi government’s commitment to service, good governance and welfare of the poor is evident in many decisions taken by them which had remained neglected until now like making income up to Rs 12 lakh tax-free for the middle class, increasing 75,000 new seats in medical colleges, removing export value on onion and basmati rice, increasing the support price of kharif crops from Rs 100 to Rs 550, a package of Rs 2 lakh crore for the youth, increasing capital expenditure to Rs 11 lakh 11 thousand crore, and providing free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to citizens above 70 years of age under the Ayushman Vay Vandana Yojana.

Over 50 lakh Lakhpati Didis have been registered in the last year. Since the launch of this initiative, 1.25 crore women have become Lakhpati Didis. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan created a cleanliness movement and everyone was able to see how it transformed the country. The country’s metro network has expanded beyond 1,000 kilometers in the last 11 years. India was a toy importer before 2014. In 2023-24, India exported toys worth $152.34 million.

The innovative idea of starting freight transport on rivers like the Ganges has been a great success. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has generated a revenue of Rs 2 lakh crore. The Modi government’s schemes like Jan Dhan, Ujjwala, and PM Awas Yojana have brought about revolutionary changes in the lives of the poor. I take this opportunity to express my confidence and belief that India’s development chariot will run even faster in the next 4 years.

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