India gaining respect internationally under Modi: Ramachander Rao

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

BJP Telangana president N. Ramchander Rao said India is earning growing global respect under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserted that the NDA government is firmly committed to achieving the goals of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Telangana. He claimed the BJP is steadily expanding its base in Telangana amid increasing public dissatisfaction with the Congress and BRS, with several surveys indicating that the party is emerging as the state's principal political force.

Rao made the remarks while attending the 19th Maha Sabha and Youth Conference of the American Telugu Association (ATA) in Baltimore, USA, where he addressed a meet-and-greet programme with BJP workers, supporters and well-wishers.

Highlighting the party's performance in Telangana, Rao said the BJP has eight Lok Sabha MPs from the state and has secured important victories in recent MLC and local body elections. Accusing the Congress and BRS of working together, he alleged that the two parties joined hands to defeat the BJP candidate in the MLC polls and that the BRS has been supporting the Congress on several national issues.

Praising the Modi government, Rao said India has become the world's fourth-largest economy and is witnessing record highway construction and large-scale infrastructure development, creating significant employment opportunities. He recalled that the Centre safely evacuated Indian students during the Russia-Ukraine war and also assisted students from other countries, including Pakistan, demonstrating India's growing global standing. He added that India avoided fuel shortages during the West Asian crisis due to the Prime Minister's foresight.

Rao said the Centre aims to nurture entrepreneurs rather than merely produce job-seekers. Schemes such as Startup India, Stand-Up India and the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana have encouraged youth entrepreneurship, helping India become the world's second-largest startup ecosystem. He cited Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace as an example of India's innovation-driven growth.

Referring to Operation Sindoor, Rao said India showcased its indigenous defence capabilities and significantly expanded defence exports. A country once dependent on imports for defence equipment is now emerging as a global defence manufacturing hub, he said.

Centre supporting Telangana

Listing the Centre's support to Telangana, Rao said the state's share of central taxes increased from 32% to 42% after 2014. He highlighted projects including AIIMS, the Central Tribal University, the Zahirabad Industrial Smart City, the Kazipet railway factory and the PM MITRA textile park in Warangal.

He said Telangana now receives over Rs 5,000 crore annually in railway allocations, while 41 railway stations are being modernised and five Vande Bharat trains operate in the state. Three high-speed rail corridors have been proposed, with Hyderabad expected to become a major rail hub. He also noted that 12 national highway projects are under way, while new airports are being developed in Warangal and Adilabad.

Rao said welfare initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Anna Yojana, which provides 5 kg of free rice to eligible beneficiaries every month, and the PM-Kisan scheme, under which eligible farmers receive Rs 6,000 annually, reflect the Centre's commitment to development. He reiterated that the Modi government would continue working towards the goals of Viksit Bharat and Viksit Telangana.