Amit Shah Addresses a Press Conference in Delhi Marking 1 Year of Modi Government: Highlights

New Delhi: Amit Shah addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Delhi marking one year of the Narendra Modi government in power.

Here are the highlights of his press conference:

• The elections in 2014 were record-breaking for the BJP and for the Indian democracy.
• After 30 years, a single party was given a mandate and for the first time after independence a non-Congress party was given a full majority.
• This has been a visible government, earlier the government needed to be found.
• There are many ways to evaluate the government's work. I believe that the major achievement of the government is to remove the trust deficit (vishwas ka sankat) this country had.
• The world is acknowledging India's progress in every field.
• This government has restored the pride of the Prime Minister's Office.
• Every ministry is today working freely without interference from a Group of Ministers.
• This government has come out of policy paralysis.
• Under Modi ji's leadership, we had promised that we will root out corruption. We have been able to do that... even our political opponents have not been able to point fingers at us for any scam.
• The people who propounded the zero-loss  theory should face the people of India.
• There is a limit in trying to fool the people. I dare the Congress to bring up the 'zero loss' theory again.
• What has the Congress done in its 60 years in power for recovering black money?
• We have enacted a law on black money and we are determined to get 'black money' back.
• If the BJP government announces the name of those who have black money, then according to international treaties, we will not get further information.
• What is your interest? To make headlines or to protect those on whom we still have no information.
• No government has worked to improve the federal structure of India more than the Modi government.
• Despite BJP not having power in several states in eastern India, we worked for the development of the region as we had promised.
• Modi ji has put forth a new idea of team India where the Centre and the states are part of the same team.
• When there is a Congress government the growth rate falls and when there is a BJP government, it increases.
• Fiscal deficit is under control, trade has grown, foreign investments are at their highest in 10 years, prices have been brought under control.
• When the Vajpayee government began, the growth rate was around 4 per cent. When they were out of power, it was around 8 per cent. During the UPA rule, it went back to around 4 percent. After one year of Modi government, the growth rate is now at 5.7 per cent. I'm using the older basis so that the comparison is fair.
• More than Rs 2 lakh crore has been added to the treasury by transparent auction of coal mines.
• We have opened back accounts and also facilitated loans for small businesses via the MUDRA bank - loans from 10,000 to 10 lakh rupees.
• This government has done a lot of work to address the problems of the poor in India.
• We want 24x7 electricity in every Indian village by 2019.
• 8.6% increase in production of electricity in this country, 22,000 MW added to installed capacity.
• I pray to the economically stronger citizens of this country to give up their gas subsidies. I assure them that the subsidy they give up will not accrue to government coffers, it will go as subsidy to the poor of this country.
• We have given relief to farmers in distress, we have increased the amount of relief by 50%. Any farmers suffering over 30% damage will now get relief.
• UPA government under the WTO sold out the interests of the farmers - where farmers couldn't get a minimum support price. The BJP government took a strong stand. We said even if we are not a part of the WTO we will stand will the farmers.
• Today the world recognizes our demand and I think, there isn't a better example of political will than this.
• We have united the security agencies and strengthened internal security of India.
• Instead of empty speeches, through his interaction the PM has increased India's global acceptance.
• We believe that it is our duty to give the people an account of the work that has been done. The party will try and reach out to over 8 lakh households in the next 3 months.
• Amit Shah on Delhi Govt Vs Centre: It is a matter of the intepretation of the constitution. The matter will go to court and will be settled.
• Amit Shah on his corruption remark: When we say no corruption, that is as a comparison to the past.