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PM Modi unveils ambitious targets, seeks renewed national resolve (Img: X)
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday sought to infuse a fresh energy into India's growth ambitions, giving citizens a new slogan, "We will do it". Marking 25 years since he first took charge as head of a government, PM Modi used the occasion to set ambitious goals for India.
He addressed a packed gathering at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi and received an enthusiastic response from the crowd, which echoed "we will do it" each time he outlined one of his targets.
It was 25 years ago, on October 7, 2001, that Modi was sworn in as the chief minister of Gujarat, succeeding Keshubhai Patel as the state's 14th chief minister. He used the milestone not merely to look back at his political journey but to call for a renewed national resolve.
"Today, at this stage of my journey, I respectfully salute every volunteer and every fellow worker. Friends, today is not just a day for memories. It is a day to fill our resolve with new energy. This is a day to repeat that promise, to express that intention, which says, We will do it. We will do it. We will do it. We will do it," said Modi.
PM Modi laid out a series of objectives, including the goal of making India a developed nation by 2047. Among the most prominent targets were taking India into the world's top three economies, hosting the Olympic Games and sending Indians into space.
Each time Modi announced a goal, the gathering responded with a loud and unified "We will do it!"
"This energy, this enthusiasm, this self-confidence is extraordinary," Modi also said.
PM Modi's renewed call for national ambition comes at a time when the Modi government is facing a difficult political phase, with the Opposition and protest groups stepping up their criticism on several issues.
A protest movement led to the resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan as a Union minister in July. Protesters have also returned to the streets, demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the INDIA Bloc have alleged that the BJP was in cahoots with the CEC and rigged elections.
The now-withdrawn UGC equity guidelines have also triggered protests, including among sections of the general category, traditionally considered a major support base for the BJP.
PM Modi's energetic address is expected to provide renewed confidence to the BJP and its supporters. The Opposition and the CJP have recently intensified their campaigns, with the CJP organising a major protest in Mumbai and the Opposition staging a sit-in near the Election Commission of India office in New Delhi on Tuesday.
The three targets announced by Modi, economic expansion, a manned space mission and hosting the Olympics, are likely to bring greater focus back to the government's broader development agenda.
India is currently the world's fastest-growing major economy and the sixth-largest economy globally. When Modi became prime minister in 2014, India ranked 10th in terms of economic size.
The Prime Minister's ambitious targets also come against a challenging global backdrop. The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns were followed by the Russia-Ukraine war and conflict in the Middle East. The two wars have disrupted global supply chains and affected major energy routes.
Modi's message on Wednesday was therefore framed not only as a celebration of 25 years in public office, but also as a call for the country to set its sights on bigger national ambitions.
