Ensure least meddling by govt in society: PM

Let's build a society where government interference is minimal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said, adding that he has been fighting a war against state meddling in people's life for the past 10 years and was certain of accomplishing the task in his next five-year term.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

Urging local industry to restore India's glory in global textile trade, he advised them to take initiatives without waiting for bureaucrats to give a road map. However, in case of need, the government will always be there to assist them in their venture. He asked the textile sector to meet diverse global requirements rather than confining themselves to the domestic market. The vast local market has made them complacent and limited their efforts to become global players, he said.

Textiles and fashion are traditional strengths of Indian industry and that could be leveraged in meeting varied demands of international markets, the Prime Minister said. "Hundreds of year-old designs are still available to you in this country," he said.

"I want to remove the government from the people's lives. Especially, I do not accept that government interferes in the lives of middle-class families," he said while inaugurating the Bharat Tex 2024, a global textile event organised at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.