Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Feb 24: Senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Anurag Thakur today said that the reports over USAID funding for voter turnout in India has fully exposed those conspiring with foreign countries to weaken democracy in India.
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“This is part of an agenda under which big powers are working to weaken the Indian Government and democracy. The top Congress leadership has already been exposed for links to US-based billionaire investor George Soros in a bid to oust the BJP from power,” he said, while talking to media persons at the BJP headquarters, here.
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Reiterating that some foreign powers were trying to weaken the Indian democracy, the BJP leader said that people thwarted the attempts of such forces and strengthen democracy by electing Narendra Modi -led NDA Government for a third term.
In response to a query, Thakur maintained that India never bore ill will towards Pakistan and the neighbouring country got itself destabilised by its animosity towards New Delhi.
“Pakistan has destabilised itself by trying to destabilise India. No one wants its neighbouring country to be a failed state. We never wished ill for it but the one who kept an evil eye was ruined,” he said.
The BJP leader further said that Pakistan was being given befitting response like in the past, for mischief on the border. ” If it does not end its nefarious activities, our forces know how to take care of it, as they have done in the past,” he added.
Dismissing apprehension of local businesses and transporters that the direct train to Kashmir would adversely impact Jammu, Anurag said that pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi, border tourism and locations in Jammu have their own importance and there is no competition with Kashmir.
“We have to see and come out with a joint package that will benefit both the Jammu and the Kashmir division,” he added.
Earlier, while addressing a press conference and taking part in discussion on `Budget Pe Charcha’, the BJP leader highlighted the Union Budget for 2025-26 and said that it would play a very important role in making India developed.
Mentioning the new tax-free income slab upto Rs 12 lakhs, he explained the benefits to the major chunk of Indian Tax-payer population, stressing that it will boost the market by increasing the spending capacity of the people and hence boosting all sectors from service to manufacture. He explained the benefits given in the Direct as well as Indirect Taxes to the people by the Modi Government. He also mentioned the increase in return update time limit.
The BJP leader reminded that the former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi increased the tax and the Cess up to 97 percent of income which gave rise to the culture of hiding money from the Government. “Due to the ill governance by the Congress party, hoarding of black money in India began and now the Modi Government is taking effective steps to bring the money into circulation by reducing tax,” he said.
Enumerating the steps to strengthen the MSMEs, he said that limits are improved for funding in the enterprises. He said that steps to increase the export are being taken, along with their capacity while start-ups have gained the number three spot in the world.
Maintaining that focus is to increase the turn-over of the units and the mission to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047, the BJP leader said that the Modi Government has raised Indian economy from tenth spot to fifth spot and the country is heading to achieve third spot in the world.
Mentioning the increase in KCC loans from 3 to 5 lakhs, he said that the Government is establishing Agri-Districts. Fifty tourism sites to be developed on a fast-track basis, he said and mentioned Mudra yojana for Home Stays.
He said that the world is looking towards us and the international companies are looking for Indian companies to collaborate. He also drew attention towards Swanidhi Yojana to help the business of Rehri-Fari owners. He said that the tourism, cottage industry and others are being boosted in J&K.
Thakur said that India is prepared for the 6G technology and the country accounts for the highest digital transactions in the world. He mentioned the laying of optical fibres for the Government schools to impart smart education.
Anurag Thakur’s address on `Budget Pe Charcha’ was followed by discussions on the queries by the attendees, who included representatives of various social and business organizations as well as prominent persons from society.
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