PM Narendra Modi Addresses HT Leadership Summit

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra today spoke at the inaugural session of 13th edition of Hindustan Times Leadership Summit.

Here are the highlights

• I am sure there will be extensive discussions on the topic you have decided
• It is an acceptable fact that India is one of the fastest growing economy in the world
• Let us place what is happening in India in the context of the world and in context of what we witnessed in the recent past
• Let us place what is happening in India in the context of the world and in context of what we witnessed in the recent past
• There was an environment of disappointment. If we keep this in mind and then look at the current scenario. However good the people and party, but if there is a fractured mandate, there is mood of apprehension, whether they can do it or not
• The first change or credit to the people is giving a full mandate. Credit goes to 125 crore Indians
• You need to work hard for long periods to change the economic scenario
• For many years, we have either been stable or fall back, forget about moving ahead. We had also become used to it
• Having a stable Government is a very big thing and this can't be ignored. Fractured mandates always have uncertainty
• On 'Ease of Doing Business', we were either constant or falling. Progressing in those rankings was unthinkable in the past
• States we never usually look towards did well in 'Ease of Doing Business' rankings- Odisha, Jharkhand & Chhattisgarh
• India is not going to progress from Delhi. States have the most important role in India's progress. States and Centre must work together
• Till now Delhi decided where states will spend money. This has changed and now Chief Ministers decide where money will be spent
• It is important that the world knows about our states and the strengths of our states
• I thank the states for being open to Centre and yet made their point
• We want exports to grow, but that is not on the agenda of states. Do states do anything for exports
• We requested states to make export promotion council, meet such people and understand their problems
• First time we have tried to join the states with the global world
• We signed MoU with 100 cities for changing LED bulbs. The day this work is completed - 21,500 MW electricity would be saved
• I can't say for HT, but it will definitely make it as a headlines in some newspaper
• On a pilot basis we tried to make Chandigarh free from kerosene
• This will lead to savings of Rs 45,000 every year. Imagine the change
• 80 per cent kerosene never went to the homes yet kerosene was being used
• Only 3200 families used kerosene, we decided to send them gas cylinder
• The black marketing stopped, environment improved. I am just telling you the direction is important
• If I cut down subsidy, I will be hailed as reformist, but if we do targetted delivery of subsidies it is not seen as reform
• When we travel in a plane and keep a book on an empty seat next to us, which is not even ours, but when the rightful owner comes, we feel bad emptying it. This is our mentality
• When Modi says give up gas subsidy of Rs 300-400, how would you feel.
• I am happy to tell you that over 40 lakh people have given it up. The country that does not like giving up seat next to them has done so. This shows how the country is changing
• We also decided that the people who gave up subsidy, we will not keep their money, we want to convert it into a source of strength for society
• We transferred the gas cylinders to people who use firewood
• We also tell the people who gave up subsidy that your share has gone to the poor
• First time, Rupee bond has been accepted for Railways at London Exchange
• Development of India's eastern part cannot be ignored. They are areas with great potential
• When we fill air in cycle, then we check with the metre. Imagine if there is a bubble in the tube and all the air goes there. So the air is there in the tube but the cycle will not move
• Similarly if the country's economy moves only in the West and not in the Eastern part, then India will not be able to move forward
• Four days ago an important thing happened. I wish media had noticed
• India will make Rail engines. Files have been moving for years, nothing happened.
• 40,000 crore FDI for two rail engines has happened last week - both in Bihar - decided after Bihar election
• Eastern India will be linked to the gas grid. 80,000 crore urea subsidy
• Am not criticising anyone but there are 18,000 villages in India, which do not have electricity poles
• I am not saying previous governments didn't work. I called officials and said I need work. I said I will do it in 1,000 days
• You know how much it hurts someone, that means per day 19 villages
• I request all of you, download an app Gramin Vidyutikaran on your mobile. You can see that per day what work is happening in which village
• We decided to make a Port department for Rail. Till then we cannot be globally competitive
• The reformist people will say do disinvestment this is a good governance
• I have to go to Parliament. The good news is that it is functioning smoothly and the credit for it goes not to Modi but to all parties