Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s capability and acumen for negotiating well and stitching trade agreements with as many as 38 countries amid the adverse world scenario of tariff wars.
Addressing a public meeting after unveiling the statue of former Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat here on the eve of the latter’s death anniversary, Singh praised the PM for appealing to the people to observe austerity to save India’s foreign currency reserve from depletion following the West Asia crisis.
He said that while tariff-war-torn Europe and other regions faced various crises, PM Modi was engaged in stitching together international trade agreements. It was his acumen that India has negotiated and signed trade agreements with 38 countries under adverse global trade scenario.
This had come as an important milestone and big achievement in our trade history. This attainment had even forced the US to lower down the tariff slabs, he said.
Singh further held, “However tough the crises India faces, it will emerge stronger and more refined; this is the nation’s inherent character.”
“The whole world is still confronting adverse circumstances, however, I would assure you all, India would rid of even this adverse phase successfully and no power could deter or prevent the country to become the Super Power in the world by 2047”, he asserted.
Presently, the country is marching ahead in the right direction for attaining its desired goals, the defence minister added.
Singh also hailed the Prime Minister for issuing seven key appeals to people, urging “nation first” duty over personal comfort, to mitigate the economic impact of the West Asia conflict. He said people including political leadership, bureaucracy and common man have already responded well.
Terming the move as big success, he said, “Almost 50 per cent savings have been assured by people’s cooperation, this trend will progress, and I am sure ModiJi’s appeal will yield encouraging results.
While paying rich tributes to the ex-VP, Singh said that the late Shekhawat laid the foundation for the pro-poor agenda by launching the Antyodaya yojna 50 years ago, and Prime Minister Modi has been building a Viksit Bharat on that foundation.
He also remembered Shekhawat for evolving the idea of simultaneous election to the Lok Sabha and the state assemblies. On this, now the present day government has ben working to enforce the “One Nation – One Election” norm.
Singh fondly remembered Shekhawat’s long-time close association with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and ex-Dy PM Lal Krishna Advani. In this vain he said recalled when Vajpayee made India a proud nuclear power by triggering 5 nuclear tests in Pokhran-Rajasthan, Shekhawat Sa’ab was the Chief Minister here.
The Defence Minister also praised Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma for his tireless efforts toward the fast and sustainable development of Rajasthan saying, “He is working well on implementing the spirit of Antyodaya as envisioned by the late Shekhawat 5 decades ago.”
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Union Minister for Tourism Genendra Singh Shekhawat, Shekhawat’s daughter Ratan Kanwar and his son-in-Law former Minister Narpat Singh Rajvi, Scion of erstwhile Jodhpur family Gajsingh his wife Hemlate Raje and several dignitaries were present on the occasion.