Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on 1 Year of Modi Government

New Delhi:  Addressing the first of many press conferences to mark Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s one year in power, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said quick decisions in the face of obstructionism was a hallmark of his government.

Mr Jaitley also said the Modi government had brought new energy and given a corruption-free administration to this country.

“The ones who are worried due to the fast progress, want to know why the ordinance was brought. The country is not ready to settle for slow progress,” the finance minister said, referring to opposition protests against the ordinance, or special order, to introduce changes in the way farm land is acquired for key projects.

Mr Jaitley also addressed criticism of the prime minister’s foreign trips – 18 countries in the past year – at the beginning, saying that both India and PM Modi had made an impact, not only in the country but in the entire world.

“The number of foreign trips the PM made, he went to 18 countries…and he had talks with several countries, this has helped in leaving India’s mark on these countries,”  he said.