When Political Parties Put Development Ahead Of Politics

[JANASENA]

Cutting across political lines, good policies have always been appreciated and taken forward by governments headed by different political parties. Let us look at a couple of instances in the past when the primary political parties Congress and BJP have furthered policies initiated by the political rivals.

Golden Quadrilateral Project
Then-Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee initiated the project on 6 January 1999 with an total budget outlay of US$8.9 billion , however the project was completed reportedly under the allocated sum of money. It is worthwhile noting that the project was completed during the congress regime in 2012.
In September 2009, the congress government announced that the existing four-lane highways would be converted into six-lane highways. Similarly Sarva Sikhsha Abhiyaan an initiative of former Prime Minister Vajpayee was made a fundamental right by the Dr. Manmohan Singh government.

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Look East Policy
China and India have been strategic competitors in South and East Asia, however, China had been rapidly increasing its influences in South East Asia. It had forged strong economic ties with Pakistan, Srilanka and other Indian neighbours. The Indian leadership took stock of the situation and decided to act and counter it with a comprehensive foreign policy named Look East Policy. Through Look East Policy India decided to forge close economic and commercial ties, increasing strategic and security cooperation and the emphasis of historic cultural and ideological links. It also began strategic and military cooperation with nations concerned by the expansion of China’s economic and strategic influence. The policy was initiated by P.V Narasimha Rao of the Congress and vigorously implemented by Atal Behari Vajpayee of the BJP. Thanks to the Look East Policy, strong economic, cultural and military ties were established and strengthened.

[argadorn]