None Can Stop India’s March To 2047

While India marches boldly towards Vision 2047 with semiconductor fabs, AI tanks, and infrastructure revolutions, the opposition remains trapped in tired rhetoric, fear-mongering, and self-created crises

Rahul Gandhi and the opposition parties seem trapped in a bubble of denial, spewing tired rhetoric that no longer resonates with the reality of India. They have two options: either stop their outdated narratives, constant fear-mongering and cheap theatrics—or continue to make themselves laughable, even insulting the intelligence of the Indian people.

The Congress, in particular, has reduced itself to a party of obstructionists, unwilling or perhaps incapable of grasping the rapid and transformative changes unfolding across India.

Just look around the country. States like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are rewriting the rules of progress. From semiconductor fabs and electric vehicles to AI-enabled defence systems, high-speed rail networks, and digital infrastructure, India is surging towards its Vision 2047 goals with unprecedented momentum.

Yet, the opposition clings to petty politics, pretending as though the nation is crumbling under the weight of imaginary crises. This isn’t just delusional—it’s dangerous.

Rahul Gandhi’s tired sloganeering about “saving democracy” and “protecting the Constitution” ring hollow when his party stands for little else but dynastic entitlement and stale sound bites. He and his allies need to open their eyes, look around, and realise that while states with clear vision implement reforms, attract investment, and empower entrepreneurs, the Congress and its cronies are busy tweeting, staging token protests, and weaving conspiracy theories. Their obsession with vilifying the Centre has blinded them to the real transformation that is happening on the ground.

If the opposition truly cared about India’s future, they would stop the fakery and start engaging with reality. Instead of manufacturing outrage, they should be supporting state-led innovation, infrastructure development, and technology-driven solutions that are propelling India towards a leadership position in the global economy.

Vision 2047 is not a mirage—it’s a blueprint for India’s rise. The opposition’s choice is stark: join the journey or be left behind in the dust of its own irrelevance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has often been criticised by the business elite and opposition leaders, who allege that he favours Gujarat over other states. But this superficial argument collapses under scrutiny. The real lesson lies in Gujarat’s development model.

Here, citizen involvement in national development is higher, the use of “Made in India” products is vigorously encouraged, and these efforts are now being linked to India’s aspirations to host the Olympics in 2036.

Earlier this week at a public meeting in Gandhinagar, Modi urged Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to set even more ambitious goals for the state’s 75th anniversary in 2035. He rightly recalled how, when Gujarat was bifurcated from Mumbai in 1960, many doubted whether this new state could stand on its own. Back then, Gujarat was synonymous with traditional trading—merchants procuring goods from elsewhere to sell for a margin. It was known largely for its salt pans. But today, Gujarat commands global recognition for its diamond polishing industry. “Wahi Gujarat jiske paas ek zamaane mein namak se upar kuch nahi tha, aaj duniya mein heera (diamond) ke liya jaana jata hai,” Modi declared.

This isn’t accidental. It stems from a bold, proactive approach to governance. Modi emphasised the need to demolish silos for faster progress, recalling how a Congress leader, when asked decades ago how to solve India’s problems, offered a revealing response: “Politicians must learn to say ‘No,’ and bureaucrats must learn to say ‘Yes.’”

In contrast, under Modi’s leadership, Gujarat pursued a “whole of government” approach. Back in his Chief Minister days, the state dedicated each year to a specific theme—urban development, girls' education, rural empowerment—to bring laser focus and accountability. The results are visible today.

In 2005, for example, Gujarat declared it the “Year of Urban Development.” This created a concerted push to modernise cities, upgrade infrastructure, and expand services. Today, the state stands as a dynamic symbol of technological ambition. There has been a silent revolution transforming its landscape—from simple trading firms to cutting-edge startups, from textile mills to semiconductor foundries, and from traditional industries to AI-powered technologies like the Zorawar light tank and advanced locomotive manufacturing.

At the heart of this metamorphosis is a bold state-level vision combining policy incentives, infrastructure upgrades, and a relentless culture of innovation.

The Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT) has emerged as a magnet for financial technology and IT services, attracting investments that once bypassed the region. Its semiconductor journey, barely two years old, is already reshaping India’s high-tech landscape.

While political rhetoric in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh often descends into venomous infighting, Gujarat quietly forges ahead with multibillion dollar industrial parks in Sanand and Dholera, turning into global hubs for chip design and embedded systems.

Gujarat’s prowess isn’t limited to semiconductors and startups. It is powering India’s mobility revolution—producing modern locomotives, high-speed railway components, and even next-generation defence solutions like the country’s first AI-enabled lightweight tanks ‘Zorawar’ at Hazira. They will be deployed across deserts, plains, high altitude mountains, marsh lands and even water bodies. Most of the components are locally sourced from MSMEs in Rakot, Vadodra and Surat.

Some of the crucial parts like cooling system, rubber foundry and gear mechanism have been conceptualised and developed domestically. These advancements are backed by a skilled workforce nurtured through premier technical institutes and a strong emphasis on research and development. Gujarat has also emerged as a national leader in solar energy, electrifying even the remote villages of Bhuj and Kutch along the Pakistan border.

This shift signals not just a change in Gujarat’s economy but a redefinition of its spirit—blending its historical acumen in trade with a forward-looking approach to technology and global competitiveness. The Gujarat of today is a gateway not just for commerce, but for a bold technological future.

Meanwhile, the opposition continues to dwell in a self-created echo chamber, obsessed with narratives of victimhood and perpetual outrage. Instead of celebrating the nation’s achievements, they invent crises and question India’s democratic credentials—hypocrisy at its peak. Their tunnel vision blinds them to the real transformations taking place: the rise of a confident, self-reliant India that is preparing to lead the world in the coming decades.

Rahul Gandhi and those of his ilk must stop peddling this nonsense of fakery. The days of manufactured protests and dynastic entitlement are over. India is moving forward—at speed. It’s time for the opposition to shed their petty grievances, open their eyes, and contribute constructively to the nation’s growth. Otherwise, they will find themselves reduced to footnotes in history while states like Gujarat propel India into a golden future. Vision 2047 is not just a slogan—it is the trajectory of India’s destiny. The question is simple: will the opposition join the journey, or will they be left behind, stuck in the rubble of their own irrelevance?

(The author is former Chief Editor of Hans India)