Present state of economy a temporary phase, says Amit Shah

At a time when India is witnessing economic slowdown and a slump in GDP growth, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday (January 11) said the present state of economy was a “temporary phase” and that India will become a $5 trillion economy by 2024.

Addressing a convocation ceremony of Gujarat Technological University (GTU) in Gandhinagar, Shah told students, “Don’t get disheartened. This is just a temporary phase. I want to tell you that India will become a $5 trillion economy by 2024.”

Shah made the claim even as India’s second quarter GDP growth slowed to 4.5%, weakest in over six years. “In the first 70 years, our economy grew to $2 trillion. In the first five years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, it was taken to $3trillion,” he said.

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“Don’t be confused by false propaganda. You will be the biggest beneficiaries when India becomes a $5 trillion economy… Some people say that poverty, hunger and illiteracy still exist in the country. But the youth should not get carried away by these claims. No one can stop a country which has a market of 130 crore people,” Shah told students.

The Union home minister also urged the graduating students to set up research-oriented start-ups to solve problems specific to India, such as farmers being compelled to burn crop stubble.

“Activists blame the farmers who burn crop residue, saying they do not understand the problem of pollution. The farmer stays with nature and he understands the problem, but he does not have any solution,” Shah said. “Our youngsters should find a technological solution to the problem,” he said.

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Technology can also change how we manage our natural resources, the Union minister said. “The government is using space technology to map and manage our minerals and it will give a boost to the mining sector,” he said.

“There was a proposal to build posts on our borders. Prime Minister Modi suggested that satellite technology be used. Forty-five such posts have been built using the space technology to map the area on our as well as our neighbor’s side. Now, the security agency says we will not need to set up new posts for next 20 years in that area,” Shah said.

The BJP president also urged the youth to speak in mother-tongue. “The media will brand me as regressive tomorrow, but I advise you to speak in our own languages. Talk to your friends in Indian languages. It will save our culture and knowledge,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)