Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) [India], Nov 18 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the last 15 years has completely overhauled the image of Madhya Pradesh by pushing it on the path of development and altering its earlier image of a backward state.

"Fifteen years back Madhya Pradesh was considered as a backward state but now not only the state is moving forward on the path of development but also the view of the people and their agenda has changed. This change has happened during the BJP government under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan," Jaitley said while addressing an intellectuals' meet here on Sunday.

Recalling his stint as the state convener of BJP in 2003, he said, "In those days Madhya Pradesh would always figure on the 22nd or 25th position in the list of the developed state. It was one of the states which were considered 'Bimaru' states since after independence. At that time only road, electricity and water would be the issues. It would feel like we are living in the forests of Africa. Today, the whole agenda has changed and no one even recalls the 'Bimaru' word."

He further outlined the top positions achieved by two cities of Madhya Pradesh in the Swachhata Survekshan and added, "15 years back no one could have imagined that two cities of Madhya Pradesh will appear on the first and second number as the cleanest cities in India. 15 years back no one would have imagined that MP will become the country's top state in terms of agricultural production."

"No one had imagined that the growth rate of state would become 10 per cent and agriculture growth rate will become 20 per cent. In the world, over 3 per cent or 3.5 per cent financial growth is considered good. For developing nation even one per cent and 1.5 per cent growth rate is considered better. If the standard of cities and villages is raised, the positive impact of the same is also observed on businesses and industries."

Talking about key initiatives of the Central government, he said, "Before 2014, the whole world only talked about policy paralysis that had gripped the country. The economy of the country was in crisis and the inflation was at 10.4 per cent. There were many reasons behind the same including scams and corruption. Despite these situations in the last 4.5 years, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, we brought the inflation to 3.5 per cent. The economy of the country is growing rapidly. In 2014 we were at 10th spot and in four years we have come on the 6th place. In the coming future, we will be in the third position after the United States and China."

He also endorsed the benefits of transformation in the taxation system and outlined that it not only helped the economy of the country but also doubled the number of taxpayers in the country in the last 4.5 years. "Owing to facilities such as online taxpaying system, the personal tax has increased. In 2014, there were 3.8 crore taxpayers in the country which has doubled in the last 4.5 years. Previously only 58 per cent of the people had a bank account but we added 33 crore people with the banking system and today the benefits of government schemes reach directly to them through these accounts," he said.

"In villages, there were 39 per cent toilets but now in 92 per cent of houses the toilets have been made. As part of Ujjawala Yojana, domestic gas connections have been provided to 6.5 crore poor women and we aspire to take this number to 8 crore. We have been able to do electrification of 7 lakh villages. Ayushman Bharat will benefit 10 crore families with Rs 5 lakh financial assistance for health issues. To formulate and implement these schemes a strong and decisive government is required," he further added.

Jaitley also launched a scathing attack on the Congress president Rahul Gandhi and said that since after 1947, there has been no politician as ignorant as the incumbent president of the Congress. "Congress is continuously misleading the people on Rafale issue and is playing with national security. Their president is still persistent on his lie. Such an atmosphere is being created in the country in which culture word is being portrayed as bad and people talking of nationalism are being termed wrong. Conversations revolving around human rights of Maoists and of those who indulge in violence indicate a political downfall," Jaitley said.

The election for 230 constituencies in Madhya Pradesh is scheduled on November 28 and the counting of votes will take place on December 11. In their manifesto for the polls, the BJP has promised higher transparency, better governance, improved women safety and empowerment, better education facilities, infrastructure development, higher income and better facilities to farmers, modernised health facilities and financial support to poor students, farmers and women. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)