Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with his predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh on Sunday took part at a book launch ceremony to release a 245-page piece titled Moving On… Moving Forward: A Year in Office on experiences of M Venkaiah Naidu during his first year as Vice President of India and Rajya Sabha Chairman. PM Modi raised the curtain around 11 am at Plenary Hall of Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi.
"Delhi: PM Narendra Modi releases Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's book Moving On… Moving Forward: A Year in Office," the news agency ANI reported.
Apart from Modi and Singh, Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma was among the key participants at the book launch event.
Meanwhile, speaking at the book launch ceremony, former prime minister Manmohan Singh said, "Naidu ji brings to office of VP, political and administrative experience and that is amply reflected in his 1 year in office. But best is yet to come. As a poet has said, 'Sitaron ke aage jahan aur bhi hain, abhi ishq ke imtehaan aur bhi hain'".
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"Atal Ji wanted to give Venkaiah Naidu Ji a ministry. He is a farmer at heart. He is dedicated towards the welfare of farmers and agriculture," PM Modi said.
Stressing on the requirements of sustained support to agriculture, Naidu at the book launch ceremony said, "Finance Minister is here, he may not like what I'm saying as he has to take care of everybody, but there has to be biased towards agriculture in coming days otherwise people are leaving agriculture as it's not remunerative".
"I'm little unhappy that Parliament is not functioning as it should. On all other counts, things are moving, World Bank, ADB, World Economic Forum, whatever ratings they are giving is heartening. All Indians should be proud of whatever is happening on the economic front," Naidu added.
A Year in Office, which took Naidu on extensive travels across India, revolves around his "mission of engagement" on four key issues with various stakeholders all over the country and its alignment with the mission of a new India in the making.
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The four key issues include the unrealised demographic dividend, need for an effective ecosystem for farmers to thrive and bridge the rural-urban divide, orienting scientific advancements to better the lives of the people, and enhancing public awareness about the rich Indian heritage and inculcating national pride in the country's pluralistic, inclusive, harmonious worldview.
While Naidu sounds excited to face a series of daunting challenges and enjoy limitless opportunities as the new Vice President of India, the Rajya Sabha Chairman also records his disappointment over the first two sessions of the House last year.
"It is a time when the country is moving forward and I feel privileged to be in this position to serve the country and its people in a new role. It is a moment when the resolute political will to transform the country is finding resonance with the people. Clearly, there are many more miles to go. We must, as a nation, move on. We must move forward with persistence," Naidu said in A Year in Office.
Referring to his role as the Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Naidu said his dream was to facilitate meaningful debates in which members express their learned and considered views.
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A Year in Office has 465 illustrations and seven chapters, including a detailed one on various initiatives taken by him as Rajya Sabha Chairman and refers to the rapidly expanding viewership of RSTV.
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