At Summit under the theme 'Beyond Barriers', Modi says since Independence till 2014, India had been a victim of mental barriers

 At The Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, PM Narendra Modi said since Independence till 2014, India had been a victim of mental barriers.

Modi said that Indian voters will "break all barriers" to support the BJP in the 2024 general elections and asserted that his government has broken many real, perceived and exaggerated barriers to lay the foundation for building a developed India.

PM Modi said since Independence till 2014, India had been a victim of mental barriers. He said India couldn't achieve the growth it should have after Independence because of these barriers.

"India is breaking every barrier and landed on that part of the surface of the moon where no one has reached...India is leading in mobile manufacturing. India is in the top three in start-ups," PM Modi added.

He also said that poverty cannot be defeated by mere slogans but can be fought through solutions.  

"For a long time we had to face several barriers. Attacks and colonialism tied us in barriers. The independence movement had broken several barriers. After Independence, it was hoped this momentum would be carried on, but this didn't happen. India couldn't grow to its potential," he said.

PM Modi said many people had doubted his government's Jan Dhan account scheme. However, the scheme was successful in instilling a new confidence among the poor people who used to think that banks were exclusively meant for the rich.

"The people living in AC rooms will never understand the psychological empowerment of the poor people," PM Modi said.

PM Modi also hailed his government's move to repeal Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. He said since the mega move, terrorism in the valley is on the downward spiral.

“After Article 370's nullification, terrorism is ending and tourism is rising in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

Modi referred to the theme of the event – ‘Beyond Barriers’ – and said the 2024 Lok Sabha poll results will see people supporting the ruling BJP “beyond barriers”.

The media group’s theme of its 2047 summit will be “Developed Nation: What Next”, he said in a lighter vein in reference to his government’s call for making the country developed by the centenary of its independence.  

The prime minister cited a host of development measures taken by his government to highlight the changes, asserting that India’s growing middle class and reducing poverty will become the foundation for a massive economic cycle. The country has risen to become fifth largest economy in the world and will occupy the third position in our third term, he asserted.

Citing data, Modi said the number of those filing income tax returns has almost doubled in 2023 to 7.5 crore in 10 years while the mean income has risen by up to Rs 13 lakh. 

The length of highways being built daily has risen to 30 km from 12 km while the number of operational airports has more than doubled to almost 150 from 70. Over 40,000 km rail track has been doubled by his government against only 20,000 km done till 2014, he said.

Such a sea change has taken place, Modi said. 

He also said a lot of fear-mongering used to be done about the impact of Article 370 removal but his government opened the doors to development and peace in Jammu and Kashmir by removing it. 

Terrorism is ending there and tourism rising, Modi said, underlining that his government has committed to the region reaching new heights of development.