Lucknow

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that the global standing and respect accorded to Indians overseas has seen a marked transformation since 2014, asserting that such recognition was not experienced before the BJP-led NDA came to power at the Centre.

Addressing party workers and senior leaders in Lucknow, Goyal made the remarks after the announcement of Union Minister Pankaj Chaudhary as the new president of the Uttar Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Reflecting on the period prior to 2014, Goyal said the national discourse was dominated by news of corruption and large-scale scams, while states such as Uttar Pradesh grappled with weak law and order. He credited the change to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the strong mandate received by the NDA government.

“You made Narendra Modi the Prime Minister and ensured a decisive NDA victory. In doing so, you became both witnesses and facilitators of the unprecedented development journey that followed,” he told the gathering.

Goyal said that between 2014 and 2025, India witnessed a fundamental shift in governance style and mindset under Modi’s leadership. “India’s identity on the global stage has undergone a complete transformation. Today, when one travels abroad with an Indian passport, the honour and respect received as an Indian was never the same before 2014,” he said.

Highlighting governance reforms, Goyal said the Modi government placed good governance at the centre of its agenda, ensured development reached the grassroots through the principle of antyodaya, and delivered tangible improvements in people’s lives. He described this approach as a model not only for India but also for the global community.

Listing key achievements of the government, Goyal said that nearly 25 crore people had been lifted out of poverty over the past 11 years. He also noted that India had emerged as the world’s fastest-growing major economy and was steadily progressing towards becoming the third-largest economy globally.

Praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Goyal said the state had undergone a remarkable transformation over the past eight years. He credited Adityanath with dismantling the influence of land, sand and liquor mafias, strengthening law and order, and driving economic growth.

“Uttar Pradesh has today become India’s second-largest state economy and is moving decisively towards a USD 1 trillion economy,” he said.

Goyal remarked that both Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Adityanath shared a common vision of progress and innovation. “Both leaders have worked to take India and Uttar Pradesh forward with new thinking and in a new direction, which is visible today and serves as an inspiration for all of us,” he added.

The Union minister further said that no other state had witnessed such rapid development in the last eight years and that Uttar Pradesh held immense untapped potential. He recalled that when the BJP assumed power in the state in 2017, there was widespread unemployment, migration, and the dominance of criminal networks.

“Today, an atmosphere of trust has been created where industrialists feel safe and confident about investing in the state,” Goyal said.

He also shared that Adityanath had expressed interest in attracting global capability centres to Uttar Pradesh, enabling major international companies to establish operations in the state.

Turning to Pankaj Chaudhary, Goyal described him as a leader with a grounded personality and deep organisational experience. “I have observed his work closely for the past 15 years. He truly represents the idea of rising from the panchayat to Parliament,” he said.

Chaudhary began his political journey as a corporator in the Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation and later served as its Deputy Mayor, Goyal noted. He also highlighted that Chaudhary has been elected to Parliament seven times, calling it a significant achievement.

Describing Chaudhary as approachable and humble, Goyal said, “Despite holding an important position as a minister in the Finance Ministry, one of the most powerful departments in the government, I have never seen him assert his authority or flaunt his position.”

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He added that Chaudhary’s cheerful nature and commitment to service made him well-suited to lead the party in Uttar Pradesh.