Former Union Minister Smriti Irani on Tuesday said that during its 11-year tenure, the Modi government at the centre has worked for the inclusive development of every section of society in the country. Smriti Irani was in Ranchi on a one-day visit to take part in a special programme being organised as part of the celebration of the completion of 11 years of the Modi government.
Speaking after inaugurating an exhibition of the achievements of the Modi government in the last 11 years at the state BJP office, Smriti Irani praised the steps taken by the central government.
Praising the efforts of the Modi government for Nari Shakti, Smriti Irani said that in the last 11 years, the Narendra Modi government has put Nari Shakti at the forefront of India's development journey. She said that 10 crore women have been organized in more than 90 lakh self-help groups, and 33% reservation for women was implemented in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Enrollment of women in IITs has increased from 8% in 2016 to 20% in 2024, she said, adding that steps like starting the admission of women in the National Defense Academy and opening the doors for girls in Sainik Schools were also taken by this government.
Apart from this, 35.38 crore Mudra loans worth Rs 14.72 lakh crore were given to women, and maternity leave was increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, she said.
Speaking as the chief guest on this occasion, former Union Minister Smriti Irani said that due to everyone's support and cooperation, today 11 years of unmatched Modi government are being completed. For the third time, the Modi government is the blessing of the people of India.
She said that under the leadership of Modi ji, the BJP government is not for power but is dedicated to the service of poor farmers and women in villages. BJP is committed to the progress of the nation, not power.
On national security, Irani highlighted ‘Operation Sindoor’ as a powerful illustration of India’s growing defence capabilities and strategic confidence. She said the operation, carried out across the Line of Control and into Pakistan’s interior regions, led to the destruction of nine terror camps. Linking this to earlier actions such as the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 airstrikes, Irani said these were not isolated actions but part of a new doctrine that signalled the rise of a resolute India. She added that India’s defence exports had grown 34 times since 2014, placing the country firmly on the path of becoming a global hub for defence manufacturing.
The former minister described the abrogation of Article 370 and 35A as a watershed moment in Indian constitutional history. She said the government’s zero-tolerance policy on terrorism had reshaped the internal security landscape and brought Jammu and Kashmir into the mainstream of national development.
Irani stated that the government had expanded access to affordable medical care and higher education, citing the establishment of 23 AIIMS and over 2,000 medical colleges, as well as significant advances in the country’s AYUSH infrastructure.
Working President Dr Ravindra Kumar Rai said that separate Jharkhand state is the gift of BJP and BJP will nurture it. He said that BJP will continue to fight against corruption, religious conversion, extremism, foreign infiltration prevailing in Jharkhand. State General Secretary and MP Aditya Sahu, MLA CP Singh, Naveen Jaiswal.