Agenda for new government: Don't change for the sake of change

Following a resounding mandate, the world watches in anticipation as India gets ready to fulfill its true potential. The 15th Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi gets ready to assume office, at a time when national expectations are probably at its highest. It's a heightened sense of anticipation and expectation that the world's largest democracy which is also one of the biggest economies is set to achieve its true potential. I am sure he will deliver!

I am equally sure that he achieved his historic win, not only by his sheer hard work and love for Bharat Mata, but because he was listening. Listening to every Indian who loves his country and knows that we can do better and we will. Listening to every parent, who wants a better life for their children and listening to every young man and woman who are seeking an opportunity to create the Indian dream. So Modi Ji, may I share with you a few thoughts.

It is said that growth and economic development are the universal panacea: they are indeed crucial, and urgent. You have a well articulated agenda for economic growth and your initiatives to boost the economy, enhance power, ensure jobs, increase trade, grow the manufacturing sector and develop our inadequate infrastructure in line with our burgeoning population which will trigger a double digit economic growth. We look forward to the unfolding and mission mode implementation of these plans. Equally important is the invigoration of the agri-sector which I am sure your government will focus on.

Despite being a country where 30 per cent of the economy relies on the agriculture, the Indian farmer has among the lowest yield per acre. This leaves us much room for strategic and science based interventions. The agriculture sector can also anchor our economy and our society; hence a larger integrated plan of water management, agriculture modernisation and rural rejuvenation will be well received.

An idea which must be part of your plan but has not been articulated is the much needed implementation of the constitutional amendments 72, 73 and 7​4. This will enable power to be decentralised and ensuring a deeper sense of empowerment at the community level, both in the rural and urban India.

Some of the significant and potentially transformational initiatives that were commenced by the UPA government must somehow be continued. These include the RTI, RTW, Aadhaar (UID), Corporate accountability and reforms in SEBI. As a progressive economy and an evolved government, please ensure there is no change just for the sake of change and the baby is not thrown out with the bathwater.

Modiji, perception is often stronger than reality and one of the biggest coups will happen if you are able to win over the minorities. I am sure the magic wand of development will in addition to your genuine secular sentiment enable this factor as well.

Finally, we as a generation have seen tremendous global shifts from an agrarian to a manufacturing to a knowledge based economy. I request you to ensure some of the tenets of society as we know it should be upheld. We need to ensure the independence of the media, the judiciary, and the police enabling them to function efficiently serving their raisin d etre and not becoming back office boys of a powerful government. Equally crucial for India is the need to move ahead, by ensuring that the judiciary does not altogether seize the role of governance, a trend that has developed probably to fill the void created by governmental paralysis.

As a leader with great foresight, you have supported carving out smaller states. The newly formed Telangana, one of the backward states in the Indian union and the 35 million Telanganites have enormous expectations from you. They look upon the central government under your stewardship to provide all the support and encouragement to build Telangana into a shining state of India.

A well functioning democracy is a fine balancing act whose direction is determined by the voice and the sentiments of the people. With the definitive mandate that Shri Narendra Modi has received I am sure he will fulfill the dreams hopes and aspirations of India. And of the world. Jai Hind!

(Dr. Konda Vishweshwar Reddy is a Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha. He won on the TRS ticket from Chevella in Telangana​. He is a professional with an IT & Engineering background and was MD/CEO at Wipro HCIT, GE MSIT & Citadel Research. He is the son of Konda Madhava Reddy. Former Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh and Bombay High Court and the grandson of Konda Venkata Ranga Reddy, Former Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradeshand, a doyen of Telangana region)