Kolkata: Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday credited PM Narendra Modi’s economic vision, which he termed “Modinomics”, with paving the foundation for India’s rapid economic growth. He also highlighted Bengal’s potential saying the country was abuzz with the discussions on the state’ss development.Addressing a press conference in Newtown, Singh said, “Our country is well regulated and properly governed. India’s economy is moving towards 7.8%. The success story behind India’s economy is Modinomics.”“Before 2014, India had both brainpower and manpower, but they were not working to their full potential. Modiji created an ecosystem where both brainpower and manpower can work to their full potential,” Singh said.Singh claimed India was now “well-regulated and well-governed” and that public funds meant for the welfare of the poor were no longer being diverted by middlemen. Citing the expansion of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), he said transactions worth nearly Rs 29.88 lakh crore had been recorded over the past decade. He also pointed to the entry of private companies into the space sector, saying private rocket launches would have been difficult to imagine before 2014.On defence, Singh said more than 40 Ordnance Factories had been reorganised into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings. Defence production, he claimed, had increased fourfold since 2014 to around Rs 1.80 lakh crore, while India was now exporting defence equipment to more than 100 countries.Singh also praised CM Suvendu Adhikari, saying his administrative work had drawn attention outside Bengal.“The work and efficiency of Suvendu Adhikari over the last few days have become a subject of discussion across the country. His administrative work is also being discussed in other states,” Singh said.Adhikari said one lakh lamps would be lit on the Ganga on PM Modi’s birthday this year. He also said that the govt would launch the Vishwakarma Yojana on Modi’s birthday, claiming the previous TMC govt had not allowed its launch.The chief minister also announced an expansion of the ‘Annapurna Yojana’. While 1.48 crore women received benefits last month, another 10 lakh women would now be brought under the scheme. “A total of 1.58 crore women will receive Rs 3,000 in their bank accounts,” he said.
