June 2024
She stood up to address 542 of her colleagues in the Lok Sabha. All were women, all under 55 years of age, none with any political background, none affiliated to any political party. Just a few weeks ago, they had all swept to victory in the national elections – a historic outcome unseen in democratic elections globally. Individually and together, they had defeated every political party – national and regional, old and new. The resounding mandate for them was for a promise of a “Nayi Disha” for India. And that is what She, first among equals and voted by her fellow MPs to lead as Prime Minister, would speak about.
“Friends and fellow citizens, I thank you for the mandate and the confidence in each one of us. It is time for a new beginning, a new direction for India. For far too long, we have been under the shadow of policies that have kept people poor, politics that have constantly divided us, and politicians who have enriched themselves at our expense – all three reminiscent of what the British colonial rulers did to us. 77 years after 1947, we now have our first opportunity to move from independence to freedom. With a Swatantra Lok Sabha. Free from the clutches of the politicians and their parties, India’s biggest enemies. Because by preventing wealth creation, they weakened our borders. Because by preventing prosperity, they created generation after generation that was enslaved by the state. By restricting your freedom, they gave themselves the power to extract and exploit. It is time for change, a Nayi Disha. For you and for India.
“As promised in our Nayi Disha Agenda which you have voted for, here are the first 5 decisions taken by my government to see you free and on the path to prosperity. First, Dhan Vapasi. You voted for 543 Lakshmis. It is now our turn to make sure your Lakshmi is returned to you. Every one of you who signed up to receive your wealth back will start getting it. And for those who did not, it is still not late to sign up. We will start monetising the public assets and returning the money to you. It was always yours in the first place. You are free to do what you wish with the money that you will receive each year. Our calculations show that for the next several years, every family will get Rs 1 lakh annually. This is what we call Dhan Vapasi. Use this wisely to build your future.
“Second, tax cuts. No tax will exceed 10% — from income tax to corporate tax to GST. This will leave more money in your hands. Money with you is far more productive than in the hands of the government. We believe that together with Dhan Vapasi, the tax cuts will spur consumption, investments and growth – which in turn will drive job creation.
“Third, we will remove all barriers that prevent entrepreneurship from functioning smoothly. From agriculture to education, from manufacturing to services, from gaming to crypto, the government will not dictate what businesses should do. Each of you is not just a voter but also an active participant in the market. Your actions will guide entrepreneurs on what they should make. The government’s job is to be a referee and ensure a level playing field for all.
“Fourth, we will ensure speedy justice and contract enforcement. For too long, the wheels of justice have moved far too slowly. We will invest in creating an efficient legal system, because that is a necessary condition for doing business.
“Finally, non-discrimination. No more pandering, no more special rights and benefits. We are all Indians under the same flag. Freedom in our educational and religious institutions has been hindered by mistakes made in the Constitution. We will change this. Our government will be prohibited from discriminating among citizens. No special status will be granted for any individual or group based on their religious, caste, or linguistic background.
“This is our Nayi Disha, an agenda for freedom and prosperity. India has a lot of catching up to do. Without economic strength we will always be weak on every other front. For the first time, you are truly free. Go out and create prosperity and a better future for yourself and your family. That is the best you can do for the country. Shubh Labh. Ghar Lao Lakshmi. Jai Hind.”
