Next 10 years critical for India, budget a continuation of steps taken in 2020: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed the opposition parties to thoroughly utilise the opportunity to debate the important issues in the House.

New Delhi: Referring to the extra-ordinary situation created by the outbreak of Covid-19 global pandemic last year which required the government to announce three rounds of stimulus measures under Atma Nirbhar Bharat campaign, Prime Minister Modi today said the budget for the next year will be seen as a continuation of the measures announced last year.

Addressing the reporters at the start of the budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said this decade is extremely critical for the country’s future.

“This is the first session of this decade, this decade is extremely critical for a bright future of India,” Prime Minister Modi told reporters in the Parliament House Complex.

“That is why, this golden opportunity is before the country to expeditiously realise the dreams of India's freedom fighters from the beginning of the decade,” said the Prime Minister.

“This decade should be thoroughly utilised,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi also appealed to all the members, including the members of opposition parties, to thoroughly utilise the opportunity to debate the important issues in the House.

“That is why we should have sound discussions in this session. All the views should be presented to obtain the elixir of the discussion by keeping the entire decade in mind. This is the expectation of the country,” Prime Minister Modi said in his appeal to the opposition parties.

Sixteen opposition parties, including the principal opposition party Congress, have announced the boycott of the Presidential address which is delivered at the start of the first session of every year.

Prime Minister Modi said citizens of the country send their representatives to the House with a lot of hope and expectations.

“I am confident that we will not be found wanting in fulfilling the expectations of the people,” said the Prime Minister as he hoped for a peaceful session amid the call of boycotts by the opposition from the start of the crucial budget session.

“We will thoroughly utilise this opportunity by following all the norms of a parliamentary democracy. I have full faith that all the members of Parliament will make this session even better,” Prime Minister Modi added.

Budget Session

The Prime Minister also underscored the fact that the budget for the next year will be in continuation of the stimulus measures announced by the government in 2020 following the outbreak of Covid-19 global pandemic.

“This is a budget session too, but perhaps, this is for the first time in the history of the country, that in 2020, we had to provide four-five mini-budgets,” said the Prime Minister.

“It means, there was a series of mini-budgets throughout the year 2020,” PM Modi added while referring to the Rs 29 lakh crore stimulus package announced under three rounds of Atma Nirbhar Bharat (a self-reliant India) campaign.

“That is why this budget will also be seen in the series of those 4-5 mini-budgets, I have full confidence in this,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister said he had full confidence that the entire House will move forward under the direction provided by President Ram Nath Kovind in his Presidential address to both the houses.

(Article by Krishnanand Tripathi)