Critics of USD 5-trillion economy goal professional pessimists, India poised to race ahead: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday dismissed as "professional pessimists" the critics of the Centre's target to achieve a USD 5-trillion economy within the next five years and asserted that the "new India" is on the threshold of sprinting forward.

A day after the Union budget was presented by Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman, the prime minister shared his views on the budget at the launch of the BJP's membership drive here on the occasion of the 118th birth anniversary of party ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee.

Modi said his government's Budget for 2019-20 lays down a roadmap for nearly doubling the size of the Indian economy to USD 5 trillion in five years by raising per capita income, boosting consumption and increasing productivity.

"Size of the cake matters. The larger the cake, larger pieces are what people will get. So we have set a target of making India a USD 5-trillion economy. Larger the size of the economy will be, the larger prosperity will it bring for the country," he said.

Citing global examples, he said countries have leapfrogged from developing to developed status on the back of a jump in per capita income.

"India can also do that. The target is not difficult," he said.

Modi said some people are questioning the need for becoming a USD 5-trillion economy.

"They are what I call professional pessimists. They are detached from the common man and if you go to them for a solution, they will put you in crisis," he said, adding while there should be debate and criticism on ways and means of achieving the goal, but questioning the target of building a USD 5 trillion economy is wrong.

"The country needs to be wary of these pessimists," the prime minister said.

Referring to the budgetary provisions, Modi said a "new India" was on the threshold of sprinting forward and recited a few couplets in Hindi which means the challenges before one also offer immense opportunities to surmount them and everyone's contribution in the development the country will be a true gift for mother India.

Launching his party's membership drive, Modi said it will further connect people from all walks of life with the saffron party. "The main feeling underlining today's membership campaign is we should work as ambassadors of the country along with that of the party."
Explaining the difference between the BJP and other parties, he said, "We said come together and build the nation. We never said come together and form government."