Want India to be among top three economies: Rajnath

New Delhi, Dec. 6 : Asserting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government is working towards making India figure in the top three economies of the world, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said it is possible only if the contribution of manufacturing sector in the GDP is raised to over 25 percent.

“We want India to be among the top five economies of the world and few years later even among the top three nations of the world. This is possible only if we consider capital as well as labour. Our government is initiating tough measures in this regard. We are moving with a great pace towards the dream of Babasaheb Ambedkar,” Rajnath said while speaking at a programme here on the 60th death anniversary Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

“The contribution of India in the manufacturing sector is approximately 14 percent, while the contribution of China is 30 percent. Our ‘Make in India’ programme will help in raising the contribution of manufacturing sector in our GDP to 25 to 30 percent,” he added.

The Home Minister pointed out that around 31 billion dollar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has come to India in a small period of time.

“I am proud to say that around 31 billion dollar Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has come to India in such a small time. This has not happened in any country around the world. With increase in manufacturing sector, the employment rate will also increase,” he said.

Referring Babasaheb Ambedkar as the architect of Modern India, he said: “Babasaheb Ambedkar was not only the principle architect of our constitution but also the principle architect of RBI and the Finance Commission. I have never seen him as the leader of Dalits but have seen him as the leader of the nation.”

“He had given the concept of welfare state, for the welfare of socially backward classes,” Rajnath added.

President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other senior leaders today remembered Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar on his 60th death anniversary, which is being observed as ‘Mahaparinirvan Diwas’.

President Mukherjee, Vice President Ansari and Prime Minister Modi offered floral tributes at Dr. Ambedkar’s statue in the Parliament premises.

Babasaheb Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, breathed his last on December 6, 1956. (ANI)