PM Modi spoke about India hosting the Olympics and sending Indians into space. Photo: PTI
‘We will do it’: Modi sets 3 targets for India as he completes 25 years in public service
Marking 25 years in government, Narendra Modi called for India to become a top-three global economy, host the Olympics and send Indians into space
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (October 7) set three targets for the country, including becoming the world’s third-largest economy, hosting the Olympics and sending Indians into space.
He called on people to take up the goals with a new slogan, “We will do it”, as a crowd at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium in New Delhi responded with the same words.
25 years in government
The event marked 25 years since Modi first took charge of a government. He became Gujarat Chief Minister on October 7, 2001, succeeding Keshubhai Patel as the state’s 14th Chief Minister.
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“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 PM Modi, as quoted by India Today.
PM lays out Viksit Bharat goals
He spoke about his vision of a “Viksit Bharat” and set out other goals alongside the three targets. These included making India a developed nation by 2047, becoming self-reliant and turning the country into a global manufacturing hub.
PM Modi also spoke about India hosting the Olympics and sending Indians into space.
The backdrop
The speech came as the government faces protests and opposition pressure. A protest movement led to the resignation of Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan in July.
Protests have also resumed, with demonstrators seeking the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
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The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and the Congress-led Opposition have accused the BJP of being in cahoots with the CEC in rigging elections.
The now-withdrawn UGC equity guidelines have also led to protests among the general category, described in the source as a major BJP support base.