Must pull Indian economy out of 'gloom': Narendra Modi at FICCI

, Jan 15: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate and

Chief Minister

Wednesday said there was an atmosphere of gloom in the Indian economy, and there was need to pull the country out of it.

Modi was addressing the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) in Gandhinagar.

"We need to come out of the current gloom and bridge the trust deficit in India. An atmosphere of confidence and trust is very important in India now," Modi said, addressing business leaders in Gandhinagar.

"Running away from decision-making will not help run a country," he said, taking an indirect jibe at the Congress-led coalition at the centre, which the BJP has accused of "policy paralysis".

The Gujarat chief minister said it was important to increase purchasing power to ensure growth.

Highlights of the speech:

• There is so much gloom everywhere in India, even a World Cup win gives us hope

• People need to see a small ray of hope and they need someone they can trust.

• An atmosphere of confidence and trust is very important in India right now.

• In Gujarat, everyone believes that they can work here without even knowing me personally.

• We are at a point, where the country needs to set an agenda to answer such questions.

• If the purchasing power of the common keeps decreasing, what will come of it?

• In villages, which are the biggest buyers but with no development there, no economy will be generated in cities and we will become dependent of banks.

• Two sectors are most important: agriculture and service sector.

• Need to focus on improving productivity in agriculture and value additions to improve rural economy.

• If we keep on exporting minerals, the country will not generate employment or development.

• Someone has to take responsibility. The reason for disappointment is that nobody accepts responsibility in this country.

• People ask me why did you not run away from the Patna rally blasts. I tell them I am not one to run away.

• Democracy and demography is the most important advantage that we have.

• Our judiciary system, vibrancy, democracy is attractive to the rest of the world.

• For development in India, we have to start accumulating man-power now itself.

• We have started online education to bridge the gap between education and industry.

• Common man looks for cheap treatment for every illness. Indian hospitals are renowned in the world but the insurance process in India holds us back.

• If people know that we have the power to provide insurance, foreigners will come here to get treatment done.

• We are spending crores on imports, something that the youth in our country can also provide.

• Instead of hiring people from outside India, should we not start colleges in India.

• Our country has a shortage in the Army, how will India function with a shortage in the Armed Forces?

• I am a very hopeful man. I look at a glass half-full with a different approach. I believe that glass is half-full with water and half-full with air. Hence the glass is completely full.

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With IANS inputs

OneIndia News