From Chandrayaan-2 to big push to reforms in 100 days, Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in the second term has ushered a new era of discovery and development in India, Union Minister of State for Finance, Anurag Thakur said on Monday.

Thakur was addressing media persons in Shimla on achievements of Modi government 2.0 and elaborated on the achievements of the Central government in 100 days.

“The biggest decision of the Modi government after coming into power is the abolition of Article 370 and 35 A which fulfilled the long term demand of ‘One Nation, One Constitution’. These laws had even made unfurling Indian flag in Jammu Kashmir a crime,” Thakur said, who himself had carried out Tiranga Yatra to Srinagar and had hoisted tricolour in 2011.

He said the decision would lead to the development of Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh and it would give a big push for the generation of employment opportunities, besides ensuring creation of socio-economic infrastructure.

The Modi government was now focusing on making India a 5 trillion dollar economy which the critics were terming as an uphill task. In 2014-15, India’s economy stood at 1.8 trillion dollars and the Central government had added 1 trillion dollars in 5 years.

“We are committed to fulfil our promise and the government would take decisions to fulfil this cherished dream, despite what our critics or opposition parties say,” he said. Talking about the decision of merger of public sector banks, Thakur said the merger of banks was suggested in 1991-92 but the decision was implemented by Modi government only.

The decision would facilitate Indian banks in competing with International banks, besides ensuring enough cash flow to provide loans. He said the Central government was committed to ensuring ease of doing business and had repealed various redundant laws. Further, the government would facilitate wealth creators and tax payers by starting impartial tax assessments.

“Our government’s motto is ‘Respect Tax Payers than Suspect All’ to facilitate taxpayers for contribution in nation-building as earlier various Income Tax were found suspect in harassing taxpayers. It was due to these efforts of the government that the number of income taxpayers has risen from 3.5 crore to 7 crore,” he said.

He detailed about Goods and Services Tax, Ayushman Bharat, Ujjwala, housing schemes and said these had come as big relief to the common man. He also mentioned the passing of Triple Talaq Bill and The Code of Wages 2019 to ensure equal opportunities to women.

Thakur said now the Modi government wants to focus on ‘Jal Shakti’ or Save Water scheme which is the need of the hour and record works are being conducted under the scheme.

Around 2.11 small works as the building of check dams were identified under the scheme and so far 1 lakh had been completed. “It is for the first that so many bills and schemes have been passed/started in the 100 days of a government in the country,” he added.