‘Red Tapism to Red Carpet’: PM Modi Tells How BJP's ‘Double Engine Sarkar’ Drove Change in Uttar Pradesh

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) “double engine sarkar” has eventually succeeded in transforming Uttar Pradesh’s (UP) culture of “red tapism” to that of “red carpet”.

PM Modi laid the foundation stone of Kalki Dham temple at Sambhal in Uttar Pradesh’s Sonbhadra district and also launched 14,000 projects worth more than Rs 10 lakh crore at the fourth ground-breaking ceremony for investment proposals received during the UP Global Investors Summit. The projects were related to sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energy, IT & ITES, food processing, housing and real estate, hospitality and entertainment and education, among others.

PM Modi said that years ago, investment in UP used to be an unimaginable thing. “Due to the stringent industrial policies and high crime rate in UP, investors used to avoid investing in UP. But the double engine government has changed the grim scenario, changing the red tapism culture to one of red carpet. Such massive investment in UP and long queues of investors are glaring examples of change,” he said at the Indira Gandhi Pratishthan in Lucknow.

Modi said that the BJP was one of the most progressive governments and the double engine government has proved that where there is will, there is a way. “UP is excelling in all streams, be it doubling of exports, electricity generation or and having a maximum number of international airports. It has become the first state to have the country’s first rapid rail. All the more, it has a maximum set of expressways,” said Modi.

PM Modi also took potshots at the previous government and blamed them for not carrying out development in the state. “India’s growth story is one of the most talked about topics nowadays. People talk about India’s success and also ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’. This is Viksit Bharat and this could not be achieved with the earlier approach. Previous governments used to believe in offering a bare minimum to people, which had badly affected the growth of the states and UP was no exception. But our government has made life for every family easier. We distributed four crore pucca houses under PM Awas Yojana. Urban middle-class families were also provided assistance of Rs 7,000 crore to realise their dream of owning a house. Through this, 25 lakh beneficiary families, including 1.5 lakh families from UP, received rebates in interest. Income-tax reforms such as raising the limit of tax exemption from Rs 2 lakh in 2014 to Rs 7 lakh now has helped the middle class,” said the PM, while highlighting the benefits people got during the BJP government’s regime.

Modi further said that Rs 10,000 crore worth of assistance was provided to street vendors under the PM SVANidhi scheme. In UP, about 22 lakh street vendors received the benefits. He mentioned that beneficiaries of the scheme experienced extra annual income amounting to Rs 23,000. The PM also informed that 75% beneficiaries of PM SVANidhi are from SC, ST, backward or tribal communities, with half of them being women. “Earlier, they had no guarantee for banks, today they have Modi’s guarantee,” he added.

“UP has the potential to become India’s largest tourism hub,” the Prime Minister said, noting that every person in the country wants to visit Varanasi and Ayodhya today, drawing lakhs of visitors and tourists. Due to this, the Prime Minister said, unprecedented opportunities are being created for small entrepreneurs, airline companies and hotel-restaurant owners here.

The Prime Minister highlighted the government’s emphasis on making India a global hub in technology and manufacturing. “Our effort is that every house and every family in the country should become a solar power generator.” Besides, he also highlighted the government’s push towards the EV sector as well as tax exemptions on the purchase of electric vehicles.

Referring to the recent decision to confer Bharat Ratna to Chaudhary Charan Singh, PM Modi said, “Honoring Chaudhary Saheb, son of the soil of Uttar Pradesh, is an honour for crores of labouring farmers of the country.”

He also talked about the earlier discriminatory practices with regard to the conferment of state honours. He praised Singh’s contribution to small farmers and said, “We are empowering the country’s farmers with the inspiration of Chaudhary Saheb.”

PM Modi reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting farmers in exploring new avenues in agriculture. “We are assisting and encouraging farmers to take our country’s agriculture on a new path.” He emphasised on natural farming and millets, citing the emergence of large-scale natural farming along the banks of the Ganges in Uttar Pradesh, which not only benefits farmers, but also helps preserve the purity of the sacred rivers.

Addressing food processing entrepreneurs, PM Modi urged them to prioritise the mantra of “zero effect, zero defect” in their endeavours. He emphasised the importance of working towards a common goal of having Indian food products on dining tables across the globe, highlighting the success stories of products such as Siddharth Nagar’s Kala Namak rice and Chandauli’s black rice, which are now being exported in significant quantities.

Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Union Minister for Defence Rajnath Singh, and Ministers from Uttar Pradesh government were present on the occasion. The programme was attended by about 5,000 participants, including industrialists, representatives of top global and Indian companies, ambassadors, high commissioners and other distinguished guests.