Hyderabad rocket success reflects India’s technology push: Telangana BJP chief
HYDERABAD: Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao cited the successful launch of a rocket by a Hyderabad-based private firm as an example of India’s technological progress under the Narendra Modi government.
Addressing Telugu-speaking non-resident Indians in New Jersey during his US visit, Rao said initiatives such as Startup India and Make in India had instilled confidence among young people and encouraged technological development.
He was speaking at a “Meet and Greet” programme attended by members of the Indian diaspora.
Hyderabad achievement cited as sign of technology growth
Rao said the successful rocket launch by a private firm from Hyderabad demonstrated the progress India had made in technology.
He linked the achievement to the Centre’s broader push for domestic manufacturing, startups and infrastructure development.
Rao said the number of airports in the country had increased from about 75 before 2014 to around 150. He cited the international airport at Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh as another example of infrastructure development.
He also referred to the construction of village roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and the development of national highways.
In the defence sector, Rao said India had moved from dependence on foreign imports towards exporting indigenous defence equipment on a large scale. He said “Make in India” defence equipment had played an important role in recent military operations.
Rao contrasts Modi government with Congress rule
Rao said India’s direction had changed after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014 and asserted that the country had emerged as a global leader.
India, which once depended on imports of wheat and milk powder from the US under the PL-480 programme, was now in a position to provide financial assistance to nearly 50-60 countries, he said.
Referring to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rao said India demonstrated its commitment to humanity by developing the indigenous Covaxin vaccine. He said vaccines were administered free of cost in India and supplied to countries around the world.
Rao attacked the Congress over the functioning of the UPA-I and UPA-II governments. He alleged that there was a strong public perception during that period that decision-making power rested with Sonia Gandhi.
He also alleged that lakhs of crores of rupees in public money were diverted through scams involving 2G spectrum allocation, the Commonwealth Games and coal block allocation.
Rao accused the Congress of giving importance to one family for several decades while failing to adequately recognise leaders such as former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
He said leaders such as Shastri, who came from humble backgrounds and stayed away from dynastic politics, had served the country selflessly but were not given their due recognition.
‘National interests must come before party interests’
Rao said an opposition was necessary in a democracy, but political differences should be set aside when national security and integrity were at stake.
Referring to the September 11 attacks in the US, he said opposition parties there had stood united in support of national security measures.
In India, however, some opposition leaders had sought proof after military action against Pakistan, he said. Rao also criticised anti-national slogans during protests at Jantar Mantar and what he described as irresponsible views on Kashmir.
“Our nation is like a human body. Just as we cannot sever a body part and give it to someone else, we cannot relinquish any part of India,” Rao said.
He said the nation’s interests were paramount over party interests and called for people to follow the principle of “Nation First”.
Rao said national development and security should remain priorities in nation-building and asserted that India had moved from “family rule” towards the “Nation First” principle.
He extended greetings to people of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and those from other parts of the country who attended the programme.
