India is one of the developing nations in the world. It has
the second largest population and is the seventh largest country by area.
Speculations are twenty to fifty years from now, India would be a superpower; its
streets would be free from poverty, and her economy surpassing that of China
and the USA. Her name would resonate with technological advancement,
urbanization, development and prosperity. That is the India we are looking at
in the future.
India needs forward thinkers like Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira
Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi, who not only understand
situations at hand but also have a vision for the future to lead India to its
glorious and bright prospect. Corruption is rampant in India and many other
countries in the world. Corruption exists in democracies as old as 200 years
and relatively new ones as young as 60. Not only in democracies but also in communist
countries. We as the people have to accept the fact that till the human brain
has greed and lust for more, corruption will exist. This although does not mean
it cannot be checked. A correct system of checks and balances will ensure that
corruption is at its minima. Comparing India to the USA is not cogent, American
democracy is over 200 years old; it has tried, tested and learnt from its
mistakes. India is still young, prone to making faults, but she has to learn
from them and correct herself. We have seen for nine long years at how the
United Progressive Alliance has lead India. It is time for us to bring change
and give other political parties a chance to prove themselves.
Atal Bihari Vajapayee was the prime minister from 1999 to
2004. His government began the establishment of special export processing
zones, Information Technology and Industrial Parks across the country to
bolster industrial production and exports. In its third term (1999–2004), his
government launched the National Highway Development Project, with the first
phase being the Golden Quadrilateral. In 2003, the government launched the
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Honouring of Non-Resident Indians) and initiated
plans to establish an Overseas citizenship of India to enable NRIs to invest and
do business freely in India. His government also expanded efforts to encourage
foreign investment, especially from Europe and the United States.
The Golden Quadrilateral, 5,846 km road connecting major
cities in India was a vision to improve the state of National Highways in
India. It was completed this tear and a team from Hyderabad circumnavigated it
in 79 hours and 29 minutes travelling at
an average speed of roughly 70 km/hr, which is quite impressive considering the
roads we see in India.
The UPA during its tenure also brought in schemes and
projects which helped India to develop further. NREGA, Food Security Act,
continuation of Sarva Shiaksha Abhiyaan were some of the popular programmes by
UPA. But we should also not forget about the Adarsh Scam, Bofors Scam, Coalgate
and the DLF tie-up with Mr. Vadra.
The development of our motherland should be our primary
concern while voting for the next prime minister of our nation. Times have
changed and so should we. Long gone are the days when Congress was the only
political Party we could vote for.
Jai Hind!
