Latest news with #PVNarasimhaRao


New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Chandrababu Naidu defends learning Hindi, hails former PM PV Narasimha Rao
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has defended learning Hindi language. 'While today we are all talking about why we should learn Hindi, former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao mastered 17 languages embodying India's rich cultural diversity,' he said. Naidu said this aspect of Rao's life serves as an inspiration in today's context, where language has increasingly become a subject of debate. He didn't just learn Hindi but other languages too, and that's how he became a great man, Naidu said while delivering a lecture on 'The Life and Legacy of PV Narasimha Rao' at the Prime Ministers Museum and Library in New Delhi on Tuesday. The Chief Minister paid rich tributes to the former Prime Minister praising his intellect, reformist zeal, and his profound contributions to India's political and economic landscape. He recalled the warm and respectful relationship between himself and Rao. 'I had a very good equation with him, and knew him very well. The Telugu community is proud of him. He was a true Telugu Bidda who reshaped the destiny of our great nation,' he said.


NDTV
3 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Narasimha Rao Learnt 17 Languages, Including Hindi: Chandrababu Naidu Amid Debate
Amid the ongoing language debate, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao knew 17 languages, including Hindi. While delivering a lecture on 'The Life and Legacy of former PM Shri PV Narasimha Rao', Naidu remembered him as a great statesman and visionary the Telugu community is proud of. Naidu said he had a "very good equation" with him. "He was a student leader, a freedom fighter, a scholar fluent in 17 languages," Naidu said, referring to Rao. "Now we are all talking, why should you learn Hindi? Not only he learnt Hindi, he has learnt 17 languages. That is how he has become a great man," he said. The remarks come amid the ongoing language debate. The three-language formula under the National Education Policy has faced opposition in states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Several leaders from the southern states have also alleged 'Hindi imposition' by the Centre.


Hans India
3 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
PV changed India's future: CM Naidu
New Delhi: Describing former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao as a remarkable intellectual and visionary with a reformist zeal, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday said that PV transformed India's future, and everyone today was enjoying fruits of his far-reaching economic reforms. Delivering the lecture on "The Life and Legacy of PV Narasimha Rao" at the Prime Minister's Museum and Library here, Naidu recalled his warm and respectful relationship with PV Narasimha Rao, rooted in their shared Telugu heritage, describing him as a 'shining example of balance and political maturity'. "I had a very good relationship with him and knew him very well. The Telugu community is proud of him. He was a true Telugu bidda who reshaped the destiny of our great nation," the Chief Minister said. Highlighting Rao's extraordinary intellect, Chief Minister Naidu noted, "He mastered 17 languages," embodying India's rich cultural diversity. He remarked that Rao's linguistic prowess serves as an inspiration in today's environment, where language often sparks debate. The Chief Minister emphasised that Rao was among the rare leaders with firsthand experience in navigating India's socio-economic and political challenges, both before and after economic liberalisation. Speaking about the pre-1991 economic landscape, the Chief Minister described a country shackled by the "License Raj," with growth stagnating at a mere 3-4 per cent. By 1991, India faced an unprecedented economic crisis, and foreign reserves had plummeted to dangerously low levels. He drew a parallel between PV Narasimha Rao's strategic courage and that of China's Deng Xiaoping, who initiated China's reforms in 1978. He underscored that a leader's public policy combined with the political will to execute it forms a powerful combination. Recognising the crisis as an opportunity, Rao launched the historic 1991 economic reforms, fundamentally transforming India's future. "We are all here today enjoying the fruits of the reforms he initiated," Naidu said. Praising PV Narasimha Rao's political acumen, the Chief Minister highlighted that despite leading a minority government, Rao achieved the 'near-impossible" by forging consensus among socialists, communists, and capitalists. He credited Rao's pivotal role in ending the License Raj, welcoming foreign investment, and setting the stage for India's IT revolution in the mid-1990s. "Thanks to his reforms, India overcame its balance of payments crisis, opened up its economy, and set the stage for future growth," he added. The Chief Minister reflected on the IT boom that followed economic liberalisation, crediting Rao for enabling India's "first-mover advantage." He emphasised India's strength in its demographic dividend, stating, "All countries are facing ageing problems. India has youngsters. I am 100 percent confident that India will become a global leader." Economic reforms, demographic dividend, and a first-mover advantage in IT continue to be India's greatest strengths, he observed. Naidu congratulated the Prime Minister's Museum and Library Committee for its efforts to preserve India's political legacy. He also called upon the youth to enter politics, asserting, "Politicians shape policy. Youth must participate to shape the future." The event concluded with the Chief Minister felicitating PV Prabhakar Rao, the former prime minister's son, and NV Subhash, his grandson. A question-and-answer session and prize distribution to young achievers followed.


Time of India
05-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'Need for decentralisation': Number of poor rising as wealth concentrates within some hands; 'should not happen,' says Gadkari
Union minister on Saturday raised concern over the growing number of poor people in the country, saying that wealth was increasingly being concentrated in the hands of a few. Speaking at an event in Nagpur, the road transport and highways minister stressed the need for decentralisation of wealth and inclusive economic growth. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Slowly the number of poor people is increasing and wealth is getting centralised in the hands of some wealthy people. It should not happen,' he said. Gadkari said the economy must grow in a way that creates employment and uplifts rural areas. 'We are looking at an economic option that will create jobs and (give a boost to the) growth of the economy. There is a need for decentralisation of wealth, and many changes have happened in that direction,' he added. He credited former prime ministers P V Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh for introducing liberal economic policies, but warned against letting centralisation go unchecked. 'We have to be worried about it,' he said. Highlighting sectoral imbalance in the economy, Gadkari pointed out that while manufacturing contributes 22–24% and services 52–54% to GDP, agriculture, which employs 65–70% of the rural population, contributes only about 12%. Invoking Swami Vivekananda, Gadkari said, 'Philosophy cannot be taught to someone whose stomach is empty.' He also underlined the changing role of chartered accountants. 'CAs can be the growth engines of the economy. Our economy is changing rapidly. It is not only about filing income tax returns and GST submissions,' he said. Gadkari spoke about his contributions to the transport sector, including the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'I was the one who started the Build-Operate-Transfer system for road construction,' he said. He claimed there was no shortage of money for road projects. 'Sometimes I say I do not have a fund crunch but I have a shortage of work,' Gadkari remarked. 'Now, we earn nearly Rs 55,000 crore through toll booths and in the next two years, our income will go up to Rs 1.40 lakh crore. If we monetise it for the next 15 years, we will have Rs 12 lakh crore. New toll will add more money to our coffers,' he said. The minister also discussed projects aimed at improving connectivity and encouraging investment. He further added that at present, toll booths earn almost Rs 55,000 crore and the number will go up to Rs 1.40 lakh crore over the next two years. "If we monetise it for the next 15 years, we will have Rs 12 lakh crore. New toll will add more money to our coffers,' the minister said, quoted by PTI. On raising domestic funds, Gadkari said he had done it without relying on foreign countries. 'I am not accepting money from foreign countries like Canada or the US. I will build roads from the money raised from the poor people of the country,' he said, noting that the bond share price had risen from Rs 100 to Rs 160, with investors getting returns of nearly 18–20%.


New Indian Express
29-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
PM Modi lauds PV Narasimha Rao's role in India's economic development
HYDERABAD: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday recalled the contributions made by former prime minister PV Narasimha Rao on the occasion of his 104th birth anniversary. 'As the prime minister, he steered the nation through a severe economic crisis. Adopting a pragmatic approach, he played a pivotal role in advancing India's economy and laying the foundations for growth and prosperity. His fluency in several languages, coupled with his academic knowledge and scholastic pursuits, was noteworthy. Enjoying acceptance across the political spectrum, he was also admired by one and all,' Prime Minister Modi said in a message to the former premier's family. Meanwhile, grand celebrations were organised at the PV Gyan Bhoomi to mark the birth anniversary of Narasimha Rao. Deputy Chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, BJP MPs Dr K Laxman, DK Aruna, Eatela Rajender, among several others paid tributes at the former PM's memorial. Bhatti Vikramarka stated that Narasimha Rao was a social reformer who laid the foundations for an egalitarian society by implementing land reforms in the state as chief minister, following the initiatives of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. 'It is a matter of great pride that the former prime minister, Bharat Ratna awardee, and architect of economic reforms was born in our state,' Vikramarka said. Speaking to TNIE, PV Narasimha Rao's grandson and senior BJP leader N V Subhash said that his grandfather was a true statesman. He said that although the Congress wanted to reduce his grandfather to the level of a state leader, Prime Minister Modi honoured him with the Bharat Ratna. He said that his grandfather never craved for any political identity, and proved that a person from the middle class could also become chief minister and prime minister in this country.